I am starting to receive calls for weddings next year. Believe it or not, it is not too early to book. Most of my weddings this year were booked last year.

If you are contemplating a wedding, give me a call so we can talk. I will be happy to make weekend and evening appointments after work, if that is better.

Your Prayers for this Little Girl

Her name is Julia. She has a life-threatening illness. I learned about her from one of the photography forums I frequent.

She needs a miracle.

Ashley & Albert Smith WebShow

Ashley & Albert's WebShow is Now Online

You can go to the homepage and click the "WebShow" link, or click here .

If you want to order a copy, just click the down-arrow button on the lower right-hand side of the screen area. Then click the "disc" icon. You will be directed to another page where you can order a DVD or an iPod version.

If you order an iPod version, a link will be sent to you via email for you to download the file.

If you order a DVD it will be sent directly to you.

Portrait Packages

I have received a few calls for portrait packages, so I created a new page on the website to provide you with that information. Just click on the "Portrait Packages" link on the left-hand side of the screen.

These packages are very different from the Fine Art portraits but are still much better than the department store pictures and other drive-in services. On location is always better than a boring studio picture, don't you think?

Now you can get pricing for packages online.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

OUCH!!!

Yes, this is Miranda Rushton.

We finished-up shooting her model pictures for her portfolio and I was printing everything out and wanted to post this picture of her.

Outstanding! She's very pretty too... :).

Anyway, I wish her well and look forward to seeing her in Voque & Glamour magazines. Heck, maybe even on Oprah!

Of course, she will mention ME as shooting her first portfolio...it could happen, you know. Never give up the dream! NEVER!

What Makes a Great Wedding Photographer?

Capturing the moment.

Website Stats...

Every once in a while I like to check my website stats. I usually track them for a few weeks after a wedding so I can get an idea of what everyone is clicking on and looking at, or the most fun, where the clicks are coming from.

The oddest country to access my website was the Islamic Republic of Iran...(YIKES!!!)...go figure that one out.

Here are the stats for countries accessing my website as of today. It is always interesting. The number in parenthesis is the number of visitors from that country:

USA (620)
Canada (13)
United Kingdom (3)
Japan (2)
India (3)
Australia (3)
Ireland (1)
Austria (2)
Taiwan (2)
Bulgaria (1)

Duggan/Evans & Duggan/Smith

I think all images are now posted.

You can order now... :)

Smith & Evans Weddings

I have posted all of the Pre-Ceremony pictures.

I will be working on the Wedding and Reception pictures this weekend.

Enjoy.

Editing Daughters' Pictures

I am in the process of editing, retouching and enhancing the remainder of the wedding pictures of my daughters. This can be a very tedious task, especially if I get inspired to do something special like I did with this photograph.

I have started with the pre-ceremony photos and will add them to the website in groups as I get them done. So check back and see what's been added.

There are quite a few I need to review and determine what I need to do with them.

I go through all the photographs and determine which ones I can fix, ones to discard (I keep a full set of all pictures on backup) and then determine what I need to do with the file to enhance it.

Some I do not do much of anything to them, but be assurd if someone wants to purchase a photograph, it gets the full treatment before I let it out the door.

The DVD of the reception WebShow turned out really nice. It comes in a black case with a photograph of Michelle and Ashley on the inside cover. A few different pictures were added and some enhanced so it is even better than what was shown at the reception.

If you would like to buy one (it is discounted) click the down-arrow button in the lower-righthand portion of the show. This will take you to the website that actually creates the DVD. It will be sent directly to you. If you want to download a version for your iPod you can do that there also. If you order an iPod download, you will receive an email within 24 hours (or so) that you can click to download.

I will be putting together individual WebShows for both couples AS SOON AS THEY GET ME THEIR SONGS...I REPEAT, AS SOON AS THEY GET ME THEIR SONGS.

The one I did at the reception was a Father's Farewell, so it was more of a message/tribute from me to Michelle and Ashley. The individual WebShows will be featuring each couple, AS SOON AS THEY GET ME THEIR SONGS.

The picture that is posted here, of Ashley getting dressed, is a Gothic Oil technique. I find it quite amazing how a rather mundane photograph can become so special when something like this is done to it. It becomes a true work of art.

Just wanted to post an update.

A Father's Farewell

Posting Wedding Pictures

I am currently uploading pictures from my daughter's weddings. Those are the PreCeremony, Ceremony and Reception.

I am only uploading those photographs I have used for their WebShow and Albums AT THIS TIME.

There are more pictures in the categories, however, I need to edit some out and retouch and enhance others.

I will upload more as I get them done.

It took me longer to get the Album Showcase online books completed and I wanted to get some pictures up, in the miracle someone wanted to actually order something.

So check back often.

Ashley's & Albert's Album Showcase is up!!

Another 100 pages!

Got it done last night. If you haven't seen it you can click here.

Ashley & Albert Album Showcase Update

Thursday 3:09 PM: 100 pages (Just need to add text, create Showcase and upload-so hangon)
Thursday 1:50 PM: Up to page 80 so far
Thursday 12:09 PM: Up to page 60 so far.
Thursday 9:36 AM: Up to page 50 so far.

I should finish up today. It is going pretty fast now, so check back.

Ashley's and Albert's Album Showcase

I have finally been able to get started on Ashley's and Albert's Album Showcase. I have been looking for some engagement pictures I took...and now cannot put my hands on them. I know they are on a DVD...somewhere...I need more pills, I think.

At any rate, I can go back and add later, but it would be nice to include some of those now.

I had delayed getting started on their album so I could look for the files, but I just can't find them. I will keep looking.

The Album Showcase is intended to be a "pre-design". This will enable the bride and groom to see what they could have and help them get started with their final design.

The pages above were from the day Albert proposed at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Kinda neat since every employee was in on what was happening.

I was standing next to an employee that day, and her radio went off and the person said, "ok, she's engaged.". That was kinda funny since it appeared EVERYONE working there was in on it and they were letting all the workers know that it was done...

Oh, I almost forgot, I am up to page 24.

UPDATE: 11:11pm - Up to page 36 (going to try and get a little sleep)

Still Playing Catch-up

I am still rather tired from the "2 daughter weddings" weekend before last. I was able to get Michelle's Album Showcase up for viewing. Now I am getting files ready for Ashley's.

The picture above was such a pretty shot of their bouquets. Such differences and beauty in each. Ashley had the sunflowers on the left.

I am very proud of my daughters. Not too many would want to get married the same day, for sure. But they worked together to pull it off. Everyone was amazed, even the caterer! I am still surprised how smoothly everything went.

I still have a lot of work to do with Ashley's Album Showcase, then go through the rest of the pictures and edit, enhance and retouch some before I post them. That takes a lot of time.

I still need to create their individual final WebShows. They want separate songs...Now they want to get particular...

Michelle's Album Showcase Now Online

You can click here or on the "Album" link on the homepage under her name or from the Wedding Spotlight page.



I am going to bed.

Michelles's and Jeff's Album Update

I am up to page 58 so far.

Update: Monday 1:50 AM - 74 pages

Michelle's and Jeff's Album Showcase

Finally...I can upload images again.

I am up to page 30 so far. I am almost done with the formal bridal dress pictures with perhaps 1 or 2 more spreads.

The process is going a little slower, because I am trying a few new tricks. I think you will enjoy it once you see it.

The Album Showcase will not have every picture taken, just some of the best ones. It is actually the best way to view the whole "story".

Once the Album Showcase is done for Michelle and Jeff I will start on Ashley's and Albert's, so hang in there!

If you are not familiar with the Album Showcase, this is what the Bride and Groom use to help design their own album. I know Michelle and Ashley will NOT want to change one thing, right???

Wedding Album Update

I have started on Michelle's and Jeff's Album Showcase first.

I am up to page 10. Once I get rolling with it, the process should get faster. I am trying to do some new things, overall, with Michelle's and Ashley's albums, so it may be a little longer. In fact I know it will. I will keep you posted on the progress here in the blog.

I have to decide what pictures I will want to use, then do the enhancing and retouching then decide how I want to format the pages. All of that takes some time. I know everyone wants to see them, so I will try and hurry as fast as I can. They will probably want to make changes anyway, but I want them to be special.

I am tired, so I am going to try and get some sleep.

For some reason Blooger is having a LOT of issues uploading pictures, FOR OVER A MONTH NOW. I cannot post any photos right now. That is a long time to have a posting problem and to not get it resolved...but I am trying to be nice. My issues just started on Monday...right after their wedding, so go figure.

Just a Reminder...

The wedding posting process for Ashley and Michelle Duggan is:

1. WebShow posted (Reception)
2. Album Showcase posted (since there are 2 is till take longer than 1 week)
3. Individual Photographs posted (usually 7-15 days from wedding date - will be longer probably)

They will have individual WebShows available when they get back and give me the actual songs they wanted to use...