So, the contest started off with a bang… lots and lots of babies.
And then it snowed. Something like three feet.
And people didn’t want to bring the babies out. So we rescheduled a lot of people.
But we wanted to make sure you knew that if you call to enter your baby in the contest, you can still do so if you hold your sitting by March 6. In fact, we have quite a few openings on that Saturday, March 6.
One other thing, and this is very important to us. A portion of EVERY session fee goes to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. By participating in our contest, you are helping us help St. Jude’s children.
Call… it’s only $35 and for a great cause… plus the pictures are Awesome!
Want more information, check out our Most Beautiful Baby Contest site.
Before we get started, let me just remind you that I have a fairly good rapport with all the seniors who come to visit us. I try to establish that rapport by striking up conversations on their school activities, work, and other interests. The fun part of doing this is I get to learn more about people, maybe make a new friend, and relax my subject so that they look better in photos. I wasn’t able to have quite the detailed conversation with Megan, because… well… Megan is just Megan. She’s a senior, and that’s what’s important to her right now.
So, here she is…
Full speed ahead!
Since I first started in photography, I had an unending thirst for more knowledge about photography, lighting, posing, and anything else having to do with my profession. It was always my desire to just be better this month than I was last month. While that didn’t always work out, it wasn’t from lack of trying. In fact, I always worked my hardest to become the kind of photographer I envisioned being when I was a kid in high school.
One way that I have found to learn and do more on a higher level is to associate myself with other photographers. Top photographers in the industry are not only inspiring, but educational and informative. And most intend to be. You might be surprised to learn that in one of the most competitive industries for self-employed people, most photographers want to teach other photographers.
My favorite outlet for learning and educating other photographers has been the Digital Wedding Forum, an industry-leading online forum and educational tool that connects professionals all over the world. It has changed the way I look at my own imagery, and given me insight into trends, equipment and processing methods that have made a huge difference in my daily workflow.
So, when the DWF (as it is affectionately referred to) asked me to become a Pro Portrait Expert, I couldn’t turn them down. In fact, what it means is that I am a recognized authority on portrait photography, and serve to assist and educate other photographers, as well as provide answers to questions that plague us all as portrait artists.
I’ve never thought of myself as someone seeking accolades. I don’t enter competitions or contests, and rarely do I even ask for feedback on my own images, except from the clients to whom those images are most important.
My role as an educator to photographers is well-established, with a stint at Shepherd University, several local organizations, and now my own workshop series for professionals and amateurs. So, now as a Portrait Expert, I’m ready to do even more things to earn a place in everyone’s mind as someone who truly cares about my craft, my clients, and my fellow professionals.
It’s no secret that the northeast has been pummeled by snow over the last couple of months. In our area alone, some 5-6 feet of snow has fallen in under 60 days. And while some areas of the country laugh at such “small” amounts, it is an overwhelming amount of snow for an area that is used to more like a foot or so TOTAL over an entire winter.
But one of those old sayings comes to mind: “When life gives you lemons…”, well you get the idea. I went out after the snow stopped on Saturday, February 6. It was later in the day, the sun was beginning to shine through and I took a picture that I really liked. I spent a little time working on some of the “moods” that I wanted to achieve, and thought I’d share them here.
This is the original image, captured essentially from the front walk. What I like so much about it is that the ice on the branches is glistening with the light coming through. It’s peaceful, serene, and c-o-l-d!
I was looking to capture the elements of warmth in the image, at the same time keeping the frozen stuff from looking too yellow. This did what I hoped for. It served to highlight the mood of hope… which is what we needed after two feet of snow.
I was also intrigued by the blues of the cold… something about looking at light through snow that really envelopes a quality of blues that you just don’t see at any other time.
Finally I wanted to see this in black and white. It was a virtual winter wonderland that served an enormous purpose toward my wanting to keep up with my personal photography.
So, quite a bit of snow out there. Too much for many people… just right for penguins and polar bears. And more on the way. Yeah… I know.
But let’s try to make the best of the situation and have some fun with pictures. We’re hosting a Snow Photo Contest. Here’s how it works:
– There are two categories: Funniest Snow Photo and Most Artistic Snow Photo.
– You can only enter one photo per category.
– The contest is open to our Facebook fans, clients, and their friends and family who live in the snowy northeast. To make the contest fair, and with no slight to my photographer friends, this contest has to be limited to non-professionals.
– The winners (Diana and I are the judges) will receive a free T-shirt with your picture on it, customized with any text you’d like (like a caption or logo). Our decisions are final (as always 🙂 ).
– The contest entries must be received no later than Wednesday, February 10 at 7:00pm. Any received after that will not be considered.
To submit your photo, email your photo to photos@tlcphotography.com. We will acknowledge your entry and email everyone with the winning entries as well as posting it here on the blog.
Please email us if you have any questions.
Ready?
Set.
Go…!
Speaking with a number of photographers, both locally and across the country, I’ve learned that the number of wedding inquiries is up… way up. And the number of bookings is going way up, too. And I have a theory.
A lot of people wanted to get married last year. 2009 wasn’t a great year for a lot of people… a depressed economy puts of a lot of purchases, and sometimes weddings. Because there’s a lot of buying and renting for weddings, I think a lot of people put off their weddings until 2010. Hence the high number of inquiries and bookings.
Since January 1, we have received 28 inquiries for weddings in 2010 and 2011… I’ve even gotten one for 2012! Most of our consultations started this week, a couple of weeks after a bridal show. We’ve had consultations every night this week except Tuesday. One of them called at 3:45 and was there by 4:30 and booked before 6pm. It’s crazy!
In a good way. 🙂
I have at least two more consultations on Saturday. I’m hoping to book them both. I have two other wedding consultations that are getting back to me with their package decisions.
But here’s the point (isn’t there always one?): If you want a good photographer for your wedding, you’d better contact them now. Don’t wait until a few weeks before your wedding. You might end up with the family uncle with a point and shoot camera! 🙁
Enjoy the weather.
Because of a change in work schedules, one of our Valentine’s portrait sessions cannot make it on Saturday. So, we have an opening! It’s a great opportunity to give your special someone a unique gift.
The $99 session fee includes a complete makeup session from our makeup artist, and a hair styling by our hair professional. After that, pictures! We’ll match your outfit(s) and mood with the lighting, background and props to create a unique look just for you.
Please call now to reserve. This spot is going to go fast!
304-263-3100
What the…?
Confusing, eh? 🙂
Those are the four dates NEXT year that will become the most popular wedding dates of the year 2011. They are, in order:
1 1 11 = January 1, 2011 (Saturday)
1 11 11 = January 11, 2011 (Tuesday)
11 1 11 = November 1, 2011 (Tuesday)
11 11 11 = November 11, 2011 (Friday)
It seems over the last several years, people have flocked to the numerically sequential dates, or those which have familiar numerical sequences. The most popular days of the week are Saturdays in the United States, and in 2008 more people got married on the single date of June 7, 2008 (6-7-08, a Saturday) than any other single date that year. And let us not forget another popular wedding date this past decade, 7-7-07 (also a Saturday).
While the trend continues unabated, the message here is to book early if you want to reserve those special dates in 2011. As of this writing, our calendar is open that date. 🙂
By the way, 10-10-10 is a Sunday.
We’re open then, too.
During the summer months when we are doing 10-15 seniors a week, we hold senior consultations. This gives people a chance to get to know me, and me them. During the late fall and winter, we don’t do them because we are only doing 2-3 a week at this point and people are too busy anyway. So when a senior comes in this time of year, we get to unveil our personalities in a shorter time span and try to work through the uncomfortable moments of them thinking "does this guy think he’s funny," and me with "what is up with that hair???"
But Jessie and I seemed to click right away. There are a lot more images I’ll post later, but here’s a couple we did from today’s session.
Funny thing… well, depends upon your perspective I suppose. Larry’s father is also Larry. So Larry (the son) is a junior. But Larry (the son) is also a senior… in high school. I knew you wouldn’t understand. Here’s Larry.
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