Ode to Christmas Cheese

I suppose is any attempt to waste some time on the computer this evening doing something totally pointless I took some time and went through what I call my "dump folder" It's the place that I leave years worth of Thank you photos, baby announcements, designs and photos that I thought I would use one day. Going through that folder tonight was a trip back down memory lane. I saw couples from many years ago and thought about where there are now..... I saw lots of babies, many of whom I have shot again and again since their very first shoot at only a couple weeks of age but some who I have never seen since. I wonder about them as well!

BUT I HAD TO POST THIS CHRISTMAS CHEESE- circa November 30, 2006- I think at the time there was a studio in Winnipeg that was all the rage- piecing two photos together to make a "digital" piece of art. I can't even remember their name?

So anyhow, here I was with photo editing software and all sorts of cheesy ideas and this what I came up with!

Oh it's not such a good cut, and something completely Au fromage- but it's my Hailey, my old Christmas tree and my attempt- and made me smile. And I can assure you, I won't be making myself any new cheese this year- and I haven't since :-)

Friday Poll

If you don't know already, I'm knocked up, grouchy and have done VERY little in the way of planning for this little one so far.

I haven't even come close to picking a name although there are a few that I like.

If you have a second, take the poll on the right- choose your favorite name for a boy and a girl.

Of course, I'm not saying that the "popular" vote will win but I am very curious to see what it would be...

Have a GREAT weekend!

Post 100!!!

I notice that some people like to make a "special" mention for their 100th blog post. I certainly was a wedding photographer long before I even subscribed to a blog so I'm not sure if this is fitting or not. So I got to thinking...Is there something I should write about? Are there some memorable moments? Is there some advice I could give to marrying couple? Is there anything about pictures I could post that I haven't in the past?

Here are some tidbits. Just some juicy and not so juicy details about my "career" for the past five years :-)

First wedding ever?

An acquaintance. She heard that I was looking to build a portfolio and we split the cost of film and developing- yes I said FILM-
The results weren't so good- dream shattering really, then I switched to digital and have forged on ever since. I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE THAT FIRST ATTEMPT AGAIN!

Biggest wedding party?

If I only counted a bride, groom and the "big people" it's still 22 in total. If I counted children and sponsors it's over 40!

Weirdest thing to happen to me at a wedding?

I was licked by a very drunk groomsmen during the afternoon photo shoot. He didn't make it through the night.

Most embarrassing thing to happen to me at a wedding?

My f***ing cell phone rang! My goodness I can't tell you HOW TERRIBLE I felt. To this day I don't even trust the "silent mode" and leave it in my car!!


Most expensive wedding dress?

Just over 2,000.00

Most unique place to get hitched?

One couple got married "under the northern lights" at the planetarium. Another couple in their living room of their apartment.

Most unique reception?

At the "Touch the Universe" silence gallery at the Museum of man and nature.

Fastest Ceremony?

Less than 5 minutes- no music up or down the aisle- no fuss

My favorite venue?

For food and atmosphere, Pine Ridge Hollow without a doubt!

A common trend with at least a few of my weddings each year?

Met on the Internet!

Favorite Bridesmaid dress color?

Black and pink is a close second.

Favorite Flower color?

Pink, pinks, and more pinks!

Veil or no veil?

Absolutely LOVE veils- i think everyone should have one :-)

Chair covers or no chair covers?

I love those too! Although I realize the affordability factor and why everyone doesn't have them.

If I weren't a wedding photographer I would be..?

A wedding co-ordinater/planner. I have been to soooo many that it would be a shame to put all that good knowledge to waste!

Best thing about my job?

All of the people that I have met that have directly been a catalyst in my career or a part of my life. The industry has given me much more than "weddings" Gary and Joan, Lida, Lori, Kenzie, and Karen are just a few that come to mind. Am I ever lucky!!

Could it be?

You know I don't know if I want to allow myself to get excited- it just seems like Spring has actually arrived! Could it be that the time is now upon us that "snow plans" become "rain plans" Can it be that Winnipeggers can plant their flowers and put away the shovels? I don't know if I want to believe it. After our brutal winter and an upside down kind of Spring I am so ready for some nicer temperatures.

I want to wish everyone a Happy long Weekend! Wooo-hooo! and so far the weather looks pretty good. I of course have one of those weekend jobs and will be working but I certainly notice how much better of a mood EVERYONE around seems to be in with 3 days off. It's funny that almost everyone I know asks the same question and answers it themselves before I can even push out a response.

"What are you doing this weekend?- Oh that's right, you have a wedding"

But this weekend, the wedding is at my ALL TIME FAVORITE VENUE. So it may not even seem like work at all and hopefully on Tuesday I will have lots of pictures to post.

And look what just sprouted over night- they weren't even there yesterday- Must be Spring!

Call the Geek Patrol

Because as I drove by this billboard today I nearly drove off the road when I spotted it! Not only does it boast two of my favorite ladies (and they were my real-estate agents!) but I also took the pictures of the duo. I am so proud- silly.

o

So of course I had to go back and snap a couple photos of it. Well a few more than a couple. But I will spare you the images with the smokey corners and old school effects - man am I lame or what?

:-)

Stepping on Toes?

I was so going to post a picture of my "super star" daughter this morning singing into her orange vibrating McDonald's microphone. I was going to write about her grimace when I grabbed the camera and wanted only 1 measly pic while she belted out Miley Cyrus (yes god help me) mixed with her superstar hand gestures and very serious look of stardom on her face.

BUT after logging into my ever so quiet blog, a comment sat awaiting- of course posted anonymously (because anonymous wouldn't have it any other way)

You have a nice presentation, but every wedding picture here seems tostrangely familar to the other wedding photographers' images we've seen. You should try to be a little more original ;)

So my first thought was does anonymous know that tostrangely? isn't a word? Or does anonymous know that familiar was spelled up all wrong y'all? And then I thought- well Anonymous- thanks for winking- I err- guess

But all joking aside- I wouldn't want to question someones' intelligence based on a blogger comment. I mean for real- it's a blogger comment. Honestly, I have photographed almost 40 weddings every year going into my 5th year now. Do the pictures resemble other photographers- probably some do- I wasn't aware that photo locations earned copyrights? I can tell you that my photos certainly are starting to resemble my own photos- for years now in Winnipeg the same locations boast the same kinds of photos.

Then I wondered if it could be another photographer making the judgement, but surely most wouldn't post anonymously. I mean, for years I have had some very well established photographers make suggestions regarding my photo business- and they have always been pretty upfront about who they are.

But now, I am thinking I have to not care. I have always asked my clients for ideas, we have always taken photos that they have seen (friends weddings, websites, more recently slide shows)- I have even accepted pages of word documents of all sorts of photos people want me to take. Originality? What is that exactly? There was a time a month ago that I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SCREAM if I saw another "phrase" from my website that I personally wrote, copied and pasted onto someones site. I WANTED TO PULL MY HAIR OUT every time I saw the exact same package on someones price list.
But then- there was peace :-) I know we are a small market- exchanging ideas over the web. It's what we in this industry see- and absorb- and know.

I suppose I at least have a nice presentation ;)

And just for fun, I am posting this very over done purple wall, and I betcha I will take a picture just like it this year too! Have a great weekend- looks like yesterday's expected snow for Saturday is now a long shot!

March Already!

I have to say that I am quite glad March is here

I don't think there has even been ONE time this last month that I managed to spell February right without the spell check fixing it (yes this time included)

March is a breeze :-)

Winter Wedding?

For any bride planning a winter wedding- (in particular February) may I suggest the following

-put on your bathrobe and omit the pajamas underneath

-place a pair of high heels on your feet

-for an added measure pin up all your hair in a clip

-stand outside today for about 5 minutes

- pretend someone is taking your picture

If you haven't thought of a couple warm indoor locations by then, you are a stronger woman than I am :-)Here's a pat on the back to yesterdays wedding and the "cool" ones to come.Although it's cold- I am excited to start another year!!

What's in a name- 2007

A couple evenings ago I started getting all sorts of paperwork and receipts together for the upcoming tax season (oh joy!) One part of the process for me is filling in dates, names and tallies into neat little columns for my own records.
Every year there is a name that keeps popping up- a name that kinda reflects the trends of 25 or so years ago when most of the couples were just being born. One year the name Melissa came up over and over. One year is was Kristi (Christie) and this year....

BRAD

Yup a whole bunch of em'

Totally pointless :-)

All A-Glow

I know that my blog entries have been few.

January is usually a slower time for wedding photographers and with the absolute frigid weather we have had- that is a good thing!
This is my last week without a wedding for a long time so I thought I should pop on and say a few words :-)
The wedding show has come and gone- I have to say that my most favorite thing was actually getting to see all the people that have their 2008 weddings booked. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't help many people out :-( I was surprised how many brides were still looking for a photographer for this summer.
I also wanted to give a couple special thanks. My good friend Kenzie (although totally preggo and sometimes swollen(-:) came and helped me the entire weekend! I am so appreciative and I wanted to make sure that she knows it! Also my very good friends at National Video were so helpful. From helping me move in to letting me have the "exclusive" use of their carpet sweeper and all things in between :-) And for the support and friendship that they have always given me!
So I have had some time this month to do a lot of web surfing. I have looked at so many photography websites and blogs that my mind is all full of pictures.
I have seen so many editing techniques- the trend these days seems to lean towards a warm filtered picture with a ton of glow or grain- Also, there are a lot of brush strokes and artistic filters added to pictures to give them the look of a painting- I have tried my hand at some diffusing and editing- I'm not sure if it is the edge I am looking for-

What do you think?