So for what will be the first of many weekends in a row where I’ll be shooting soccer action and lots of other things.
I would be remiss in my reporting if I didn’t comment on how well Jefferson County Youth Soccer was run. In the many years we have been working with this league, I have almost never seen a parent, coach or child be “out of control,” like I have seen in other sports and leagues. One of the perils of working in youth sports is seeing how many adamant parents go beyond the call of duty to treat kids like they are professional athletes, and completely forget they are kids playing a game.
But not at JCYS… it always seems like they are making sure the kids are enjoying themselves, but do also make sure they understand that competition and learning the game is part of the way that the game is played. If there’s a model to follow, it’s the one that AYSO prescribes, and that JCYS endorses and enforces.
Action photos for JCYS will be on sale at the fields on October 21 & 28, and then be available at our Shepherdstown studio thereafter.
It’s just that whenever a young couple gets married I can’t help but think that they are starting a new life together. But in all honesty, they have already known each other for awhile and are merely formalizing their life together.
I need to talk with some of the ministers to have them change their speech about how their lives together start the day they get married.
Adam and Martina came to us for some portraits after their wedding. Adam went to school with our daughters, so we had a common thread with them. We took some photos of them in their wedding best, Martina in a lovely bridal gown and Adam in a handsome suit.
They’re going to save a little money over the next year and go to her home country for a traditional wedding, where she says the parties last until the wee hours. Adam looked thrilled. :o)
Sad news to report again.
On Saturday night, between 10:30 and 11:00pm, the studio was broken into. Several other businesses in the same building were also broken into. The apparent motive was cash theft, as no equipment or other items were missing. We were fortunate that our alarm and recording system frightened them off before they did any damage.
According to the responding officer, other businesses in and around Shepherdstown also reported break ins. We’re asking our clients and friends to pay close attention to what goes on around our area, since it can happen to anyone. If you hear or see anything, please call 911 right away.
Thank you.
The Martinsburg High School Band Boosters contacted us earlier this year about taking photos for their band competition.
While there, we took a group photo of each band as they came off the field from their performance. We also offered individual photos of band members, and took action photos of band members while they were on the field during their performance.
All of the bands were fabulous. I’m glad I wasn’t a judge, because I never would have been able to pick. And each of the bands were very cooperative and helpful during photos, as well. I wanted to give special thanks to the band director from Martinsburg who was instrumental (no pun intended) in helping set his band up for the group photo, which I used as a model for the remaining 15 bands.
It was wonderful working with the band boosters, and apparently we’ve already been asked to return for next year. If you like band music, you’d love this competition!
A group of 15 women share in a birthday club that meets for each of their birthdays… it’s like having a social group that celebrates at least once a month. Well, they came to us to do a group shot. While all 15 couldn’t make it, almost half did and some had individual photos done.
They were a fun group, with lots of conversation I hadn’t really expected. Below is the group photo we took.
Since updating our website to something that’s a bit easier to use and a lot easier to view, we have also been able to add some new features that we previously could not easily implement.
The first new feature is Check Your Date! This gives brides an opportunity to see if we are available on their wedding date before they call. Often times calling means leaving a voice message and waiting for a day or more (like on the weekend) to find out if we’re available. This feature at least gives them the opportunity to see if we have an opening for their wedding date. Now if we’re booked on their date, they don’t lose time looking for a photographer elsewhere. We just wish we could do all the weddings we get calls for.
The other new feature is an online gift registry for wedding couples. We started our Bridal Gift Registry last year and it has been a big hit. Now we’ve added the ability of friends, family and others to add value to your registry card by just going to the Gift Registry section of the Weddings page. We can also add brief instructions for adding to a gift registry on your Save The Date cards, which we can print from your engagement portraits!
We’re trying to make things easier. Coming into wedding booking season, it is important that people are able to get as much information as quickly as possible.
Sandi came to visit today.
Sandi worked with us some years ago as our production manager. She was production manager before Brandy, and after Andrea. Just so you know who’s who and what’s what.
She came to visit for two reasons: a) she’s getting married!!!!! b) she wants to do some work for us to fill the gap we have since Jessica left.
We sat and talked for a couple of hours. A lot of it was catching up on what she’s been doing, how we’ve been doing and filling us in on her life. So we took down some wedding information (she’s getting married on October 20 of 2007), talked about the things we needed done and then talked some more about all the other stuff.
If you were with us in 2001, then you remember Sandi. She grew up here, graduated from Jefferson, and has been working locally ever since.
We’ll be seeing her again soon, since she’ll be helping us in the studio for awhile.
Call this a teaser if you will.
Last year we offered some classes in better photography. They went quite well, and the people who took the classes ended up with a better understanding of how to make better photos.
We have revised the concept somewhat and will soon be offering workshops. Each will cover two sessions, with the first of each session a kind of hands-on classroom environment and the second session an opportunity to apply what you have learned. We are still working on the details, but here is a tentative list of the workshops we are now planning:
– How to use your digital camera: An in-depth look at things that are common to ALL digital cameras, and some specifics on setting your camera up for quality images all the time.
– Outdoor photography: Most people do an adequate job of photos outdoors. But there are so many things to remember that it can often get confusing. We’ll give you some basic rules to follow that will make a great photo every time.
– Studio lighting, without the studio: You don’t need to buy some big studio lights to get a good picture of your family, the items you’re trying to sell or your favorite pet. There are lots of tips in this one for anyone to use, even if you only take it to understand more about how cameras see light.
– Photographing children: We have created a program in our own studio that has complex edges and requires many years of experience to master. But we can give you some pointers on taking some good photos of your youngsters at home.
While we haven’t set pricing for the workshops, we do know that taking more than one of the workshops will result in multi-class discount. We will email our existing clients when we have everything ready.
If you aren’t on our client list, please drop me a line and let me know you want to be included. Plus, add your comments to this blog about what other workshops you would like to see.
Just a reminder: Tony has taught studio photography and sports photography at Shepherd University. In a continuing effort toward excellence in imagery, you will receive materials and a certificate upon completion of each workshop.
Today was rather special. As a member of an online wedding community, we sometimes have the opportunity to meet other photographers that we have previously only known from the online forums.
Today I had coffee and chat with John and Joe, and their respective wives. It was a good opportunity to share stories, talk about the business of wedding photography, and understand more about the future of photography in general.
One common thread we all seemed to find is that in the wedding industry there are many different kinds of photographers. At the same time, there are many different kinds of needs from our potential clients. Only when the two fit each other is there a good relationship.
I’ve found that we have bonded with many of our clients, both wedding and portrait. We have been so blessed by wonderful couples and amazing families who have come to us not only for photography, but for an experience that benefits both of us. It’s wonderful how many people we have made friends with in the last several years. It has been a pleasure that so many of our clients have trusted us to continue to be their photographer.
If I took anything away from a get-together with other photographers today, it is that we are doing so much better because we have established great relationships with our clients.
Today I was the victim of a crime.
While travelling back from errands in Shepherdstown, I was being tailgated by a woman in a gray (with blue trim) Bronco (or similar vehicle). I slowed down to allow her to pass. At the appropriate time, she did so. But before completing the pass, she pulled over into my lane, striking the front left side with the right rear of her vehicle. I was run off the road and beyond the shoulder. Fortunately, that area does not have much of a drop off and I maintained control of the car.
I was injured in this accident. My shoulder and neck were slightly traumatized. I seem to be okay at the moment, but will be consulting a physician.
The saddest part of this is that the woman who hit the car, caused considerable damage to it, and who caused me pain and injury LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. I was stunned. I guess I’m too trusting. I assumed that while I was getting out of my vehicle, getting ready to call the police if needed, that she too would be parking and getting her information ready to exchange. Instead, she sped away.
Ordinarily I wouldn’t post a traffic accident in my blog. But because it is no longer a traffic accident, and instead a serious crime, I have to speak out. Folks, if you are in an accident, DON’T RUN AWAY. It will be worse if you are caught!
How can you help? Here’s a description of the driver and the vehicle. I was not close enough to her to see the license tag before she pulled away.
The driver was female, about 55-65, with long dark hair and hints of grey. She was wearing eyeglasses and appeared to be tanned. At the time she was wearing a dark shirt. I saw her fairly well because she was tailgating very close before she tried to pass me.
The vehicle was a dark grey (possibly with blue trim) Ford Bronco or similar vehicle. We were travelling on Potomac Farms Drive at about 1:45pm on Friday afternoon. The damage to her car should be swirl and scrape marks on the right rear panel of the vehicle (passenger’s side), and possible wheel or wheel-cover and tire damage. The car I was driving is a midnight blue color, so there may be some paint transfer onto her vehicle.
If you know this person, or if you see this vehicle, please contact the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office at 304-728-3205 or 304-725-8484. The report was filed by Office B.S. Williams.
Thank you all for your concern and assistance in locating this person. Please do not send the information to me, as I cannot do anything to or about this person.
To the other driver: Please call the police. I feel we can work this out without involving charges or threats.
