Stephanie & Joey are MARRIED!

It's so great that I was so busy last year, because I have so many posts to keep you entertained loooong after I run out of work. lol

Stephanie and Joey, who you should remember from their Sacramento engagement session HERE, married in Mission San Carlos, also known as the Carmel Mission in, where else? Carmel!

The funny thing about this, is Stephanie had referred to the Mission only as "the Carmel Mission" so I thought that's where I was going. When I got to the mission, my jaw dropped open because before my eyes was my 4th grade diorama project of Mission San Carlos, which I chose because when I was born, I loved on San Carlos Way! It looked JUST like my project! I had to call my dad to verify they were one in the same, but from that moment on, the whole thing was WAY more exciting and fun.

Reception I believe was within the Monterey city limits, but I could be wrong. Either way, the venue was lovely and we had lots of time to do photos and Joey and Stephanie were amazing to work with.

Even better news... These two cuties are expecting a little one, this summer I think! YAY! Congratulations to Steph and Joe! They are living down in Texas now, but I hope they will be able to come back so I can do pictures!

I also want to really say thank you to Stephanie's mom, Mrs. Scattini- she's a mother to FIVE daughters! She made a point to really thank me and emphasize how much she enjoyed Stephanie and Joey's engagement pictures and how special she thought they were- it was really touching and meant alot to me. I really appreciate things like that. :)

My pictures were use a ton at the reception too, which was fun. Stephanie printed a bunch out and make table numbers from them. So cute, quick and easy, and they looked great. I couldn't stop looking at everything!

Special thank you to Joey for serving our country! :)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

With my 2008 bride, Hailey, who is expecting a baby boy- soon!

"It was on fire when I lay down on it." (UPDATED)

HELP!

Does anyone know how to make stupid flipping Firefox use ANY kind of uploading thingamajigge online? I can't upload pictures on Photobucket, Flickr, Facebook, or most importantly, SHUTTERFLY! I'm going BONKERS over here! I've got three weddings now that are DONE (Cathryn and Justin, you're on the plate now, if you were wondering!) and I can't do anything about it.

Tap, tap... Any helpful computer wizards out there?

So I've gotten as far to figure out this is a Java issue. But I can't change the settings on Java because of something else. I need a go-to geek to magically take control of my computer. Hmmm.

LOVE Series Day 6

14 Days of Valentine's





Day SIX


Tiffany & Donny


Pastor: Will you answer me right now
These questions, as your wedding vow?

Groom: Yes, I will answer right now
Your questions as my wedding vow.

Pastor: Will you take her as your wife?
Will you love her all your life?

Groom: Yes, I take her as my wife,
Yes, I'll love her all my life.

Pastor: Will you have, and also hold
Just as you have at this time told?

Groom: Yes, I will have, and I will hold,
Just as I have at this time told,
Yes, I will love her all my life
As I now take her as my wife.

Pastor: Will you love through good and bad?
Whether you're happy or sad?

Groom: Yes, I'll love through good and bad,
Whether we're happy or sad,
Yes, I will have and I will hold
Just as I have already told,
Yes, I will love her all my life,
Yes, I will take her as my wife!

Pastor: Will you love her if you're rich?
Or if you're poor, and in a ditch?

Groom: Yes, I'll love her if we're rich,
And I will love her in a ditch,
I'll love her through good times and bad,
Whether we are happy or sad,
Yes, I will have, and I will hold
(I could have sworn this has been told!)
I promise to love all my life
This woman, as my lawful wife!

Pastor: Will you love her when you're fit,
And also when you're feeling sick?

Groom: Yes, I'll love her when we're fit,
And when we're hurt, and when we're sick,
And I will love her when we're rich
And I will love her in a ditch
And I will love through good and bad,
And I will love when glad or sad,
And I will have, and I will hold
Ten years from now a thousandfold,
Yes, I will love for my whole life
This lovely woman as my wife!

Inspired by Dr. Seuss by Anonymous





I set this shot up. I so rock. Just gotta say that. Had to refresh the girls on how to do a half extension pyramid and TEACH the guys but... Did I say I so rock?

LOVE Series: Day 5

14 Days of Valentine's


Day FIVE.

Cathryn & Justin

She walks in beauty,
like the night,
of cloudless climbes
and starry skies
and all that's best of dark and bright
meet in her aspect
in her eyes.

Alfred, Lord Tenneyson

LOVE Series: Day 4

14 Days of Valentine's



Day Four.


Tori & Jon

I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad
Oh all I wanna do is grow old with you

I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches
Build you a fire if the furnace breaks
Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you

I'll miss you
Kiss you
Give you my coat when you are cold

Need you
Feed you
Even let ya hold the remote control

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink
Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink
I could be the man who grows old with you
I wanna grow old with you

Adam Sandler



PS: Tori! Thanks for playing Swagbucks with me! I love you guys! :)

What do YOU think?: UPDATED

A photographer I follow is having a special for Valentine's Day this month. She is charging $150.00, which is the same as what I charge. But what you get for that is a 30-45 minute session and 10-15 digital images.

What do you think about that?

It makes me wonder. I am very much scolded by other professionals in this industry for giving my clients ALL of the pictures I shoot, and that I edit in such quantity. For $150 for a family session, my client would get around 2 hours of time, probably around 700 negatives and at least 100 edits. Both online and on disc. Is that too much?

I also feel sometimes by providing EVERYTHING I shoot to a client that I am giving a bad impression. It's not all my best work. Not every shot is my best foot forward. It happens. You make mistakes, somebody bumps into you when you hit the shutter, etc. Maybe the flash doesn't fire when it's supposed to and so it comes out grainy. Whatever. The point is, I give all of my clients ALL of their photos. Even if it makes me look bad, or even if it makes THEM look bad. Like you're mid blink with a double chin. You get that picture too. (And all the cute ones too, don't worry. :) )

If I shortened my sessions and limited the images to 15... I would be an AMAZING photographer. LOL At least in my opinion. I think it's easy to blow someone out of the water with 15 stellar images from a shoot. It would also allow me to turn over images in a matter of days rather than weeks or MONTHS. It would be a HUGE life-altering change for both you and me.

BUT...

But the reason I provide all of the images is... if I were in your place.. I would WANT all of the images. I would want to see everything shot in case I liked something. Also it's a great way to gauge just how hot (or not) you looked in those hammer pants. (Am I the only one who scrutinizes photos like this to figure out what I really look like? LOL)

What do you think? Would it be better if I trimmed down the images I provided to my clients to "just the absolute best" or is it better as it is? Tell me what you think, internet.

__________________________________________________________________________

UPDATED

I think the comments I am getting about this are quite interesting- and ALL OVER THE PLACE. There is in no way a consensus at all thus far... here are the comments thus far from here and facebook:

1.) Kim

Your pictures are always awesome, even the not so pretty ones of my double chin. Lol. I love that you give everything and your edits are to die for.

2.) Annabelle

well one of the reasons i chose you to do our wedding was because i would get all the images. however, i have shot a couple wedding and i deleted the blurry ones. i did not get rid of the ones i thought "could be better" because like you said my opinion may differ from the clients'. i did not expect to recieve 600 pictures. honestly if you did cut... See More down on a few (not down to a minimum like 15-20) i dont think a client would know the difference. and yes it would save you time. so i guess what i am trying to say, is this is a decision you will have to make. which is really no help at all i am sure. sorry. dont get me wrong i think most people LOVE looking at their 600-700 negatives (as do i, still 3 yrs later) and choosing their favorite ones to print. i think that is what makes you unique from all the other wedding photographers out there. hope this helps a little.

3.) Erin said...

I don't know if I would give every single image to the client. Maybe every single non-blurry, non-ugly one. And then edit my favorites. I don't know. I need to figure this stuff out I suppose, if I'm going to ever do this for a living. :)

4.) Nicole said...

Hmmm.... I like getting more than 15 images, but I also don't know if 100 edits are necessary. Speeding up your turn-around time would be a good business move, I think. What if you edited 15-20 of your favorites, then gave the client ALL of the pics like you already do so that they could choose another 15-20 that are their favorites for you to edit. Is that possible? Then you'd be doing less than half of the editing you're doing now. I know with weddings, they'd want even more pics edited, so maybe your price structure could reflect that.

5.) David and Alisa said...

NO!! I like the idea that just because a picture might not be the one you chose to edit, I can still use it if I want. You allow your clients more options with the photos. If you shoot them anyway, why would you just trash them? The other photographers make too many decisions for their clients. You are perfect!! No changing!! One of my favorite pictures from my wedding is one that you didn't chose to edit..........I still am very happy that I can use that image.