Timm & Shannon's (impromptu) E-Sesh!

On this last day of February I thought I would leave you with something special...

Have you ever met those people that immediately put you at ease, and you realize almost seamlessly that you can be your absolute self around them?  Enter Timm & Shannon.

Timm and I met a few months back while shooting a wedding last season.  While we were putting details together for a project we've combined forces on, he mentioned that he was proposing to Shannon at the Biltmore (see that story here).  Timm's opinion was that after he was done proposing I could take them anywhere, and shoot them on the grounds (yay!).  Timm and Shannon are definitely in love, and definitely know how to have fun (as you can see!).  They are genuine, caring, open and honest.  It was such a pleasure getting to be apart of this special moment... as well as the tears, laughter, snowball fight and snow angels that followed...  Congrats you two.

Oh riiiiiiight... I mentioned a snowball fight didn't I?

And you'll have to forgive me... I have 2 favorites this time... (in order)

Rants & Raves

Welcome to the first edition of Rants and Raves!  This is my own personal place to give a thumbs up (or down :) on everything wedding, photography, life, tv, shoes, fashion, myself... a place to breathe. So... here we go...

I don't claim to be a marketing or SEO expert, I do however have a knack for those things and feel that I need to share a little of my insights.  As a photographer I check out other photographer's websites, blogs and the sites that my friends of Facebook have become "fans" of.  I am surprised more and more by what people call quality.  Your blog and website is where the "best of your best" should be featured, not a place where your barely edited, unfocused, formal pictures are displayed from the 1 couple that just hired you.  Building a portfolio takes time.  Don't rush in and force that proverbial "foot in the door."  The door will open to you when it's time.  In the meantime, work on your craft... read, ask for critique, second shoot and ask all the questions you can!

With the economy recovering from its nosedive, there have been many people that have started to call themselves "photographers" because they own a "good camera" or have a "good eye."  Being a photographer is so much more than that... You should be able to shoot in a dark hallway without your subjects coming out looking like the paparazzi captured them.  You should be able to edit your pictures in a way that makes them look like they didn't just come out of a point and shoot camera.  You should be able to design or hire a graphic designer that will put together a brand and plan for your business.  You should be registered with your county and state and be paying taxes.  You should be able to attend conferences, read everything you can get your hands on, take classes and attend workshops that will better YOU in your field.  You should be able to do what you do better than anyone else... Own.  YOUR.  Market.  If you need help in this area reach out!  I'm available, there are also other more long standing photogs/people that can help... Kelly Moore, The Brand Camp, Into the Darkroom, Lara Casey and many, many, many more.

Brides, when you hire a photographer don't settle on them because they are discounted.  Honestly, I would rather own a Calvin Klein dress that is more expensive, but will last longer and be higher quality than I would buy a Wal-Mart dress that is just going to fall apart and not fit right.  Why would the photography for the MOST important day of your life be any different?  After the cake is cut, the flowers have died and your dress has been cleaned... the only thing you have left are your pictures (and/or video).  Why wouldn't you invest as much as you possibly could into the only thing you have left after everything else is gone?  These are memories that are going to last you a lifetime, why wouldn't you start those memories out like you want to finish?

My husband and I wanted the best quality pictures we could afford.  We found the photographer we wanted, flew her in from California, and spent more than we wanted to... but I LOVE my wedding pictures, and have no regrets.  I look at them often and have nothing but great things to say about her and the day.  We INVESTED in our photographer, and spent more on something we wanted because we knew it was going to last longer.  And we have more than a great return on our investment... we have memories that make us smile every time we open our album. (Just an FYI... our Photog was the fabulous Shyla, and we're forever grateful love!)

To me it's a matter of proportion... On AVERAGE You spend $700 on a cake that's going to last you 1 day, $1500 on a dress, $500 on favors... but you're wanting to hire a photographer for $1000 and HOPE to get the lifelong, timeless quality you see in all those wedding magazines you've been spending the last few years perusing.  I'm afraid not.  Those photographers that have had their work featured in The Knot, Style Me Pretty and Southern Weddings have poured their entire life into what they're doing.  They've refined their craft and made it their own.  For us, photography isn't just something we do on the weekends... it's our life (just ask my husband).  We've poured our heart and soul into something we LOVE doing, why wouldn't we want our craft to be appreciated and charge accordingly?  We're not discount dresses at WalMart... we're the Calvin Klein's.  Don't be afraid to INVEST... because that's what it is... an investment in your memories.

~One of my favorites from our wedding... (thanks Shy)~

Timm & Shannon's ACTUAL Engagement!

Timm & I met almost 6 months ago at a wedding we were shooting together.  Timm is owner and chief editor for Studio 74 Productions as well as all around nice guy... (and bride's, if you're looking for a videographer you need to check out his work).

A few weeks ago Timm & I were laying out plans for a future project, and somehow we got on the subject of him proposing to Shannon (his wonderful girlfriend) in the near future.  He said he was proposing at the Biltmore on Valentine's Day weekend, so we started laying out a time and place for the proposal to happen.  Knowing that he's working with me on this project pro-bono, I offered to catch the proposal on camera to trade services.  The plan was to get there, hide, text message Timm & wait for him and Shannon to arrive...

I arrived on the Biltmore Estate 45 minutes early, and started making my way to the "place" only to go down the stairs and discover Timm & Shannon walking IN FRONT OF ME!  (P A N I C!!!!!)  I didn't even have time to text message Timm and tell him that I wanted to him to align perpendicular to me rather than in line (with his back to me).  So I rushed down the stairs, threw on a lens and turned around just in time to catch him down on one knee.

 So I'd like to say that THIS was the proposal...

And THIS was the reaction...

However... because of circumstances beyond our control...

THIS was the proposal...

 

And THIS was the reaction...

 

Oh no... discovered!

More from our session on the Estate later!

Congratulations & Happy Valentine's Day you two! 

Kimberly & Zach Engaged!

I believe that there's been 1 day in the past 2 weeks where the sun has been shining on the weekend, and it was only out for a few hours!  Luckily, that was the weekend, and those were the hours that Kimberly & Zach had planned to be in town for their engagement session!

Kimberly has to be one of the sweetest people I've ever met.  She's so genuine in her words and so sweet towards everyone... I wish everyone could be like Kim.  Zach is just hilarious... he kept cracking jokes and every time I would pose them Zach would poke or tickle or do SOMETHING to make Kimberly laugh... The two of them together are such a great match, and I had so much fun getting to know them as a couple.

There was one time that I was trying to show them how to walk across the street, and because I'm a touchy feely person I acted out with Zach how I wanted them to hold hands and walk... Zach being a newbie (because most couples are!) actually held my hand... and tried to interlock fingers... lol.  I immediately started laughing, and told Kim what was going on.  It took us a good couple minutes to get things back together.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed taking them!

This one was just something I caught them doing... how fun are these guys?

 

And my favorite is last... as always... 

This one just took on a whole other personality once it was in black and white...

Meet the Intern!

Hey everyone!  I'd like you to meet my intern for this season!  After you finish reading her bio feel free to check out her work at: bethanyboone.com... she's amazing!  I feel so lucky to have met her and have her along for the ride!

(above photo taken by Critsey Rowe)

Bio:

Hi!  My name is Bethany and I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina. I graduated in '07 from Hickory Grove Baptist Christian School. I am still dating my high school sweetheart of 4.5 years, and I view love as our own fairy tale. I believe in better than the movies type of love because it's REAL and want to capture that through my lens. I laugh a lot & encourage goofiness & being yourself. Creativity is what I hope everyone finds in themselves & push to incorporate that in every aspect of life (as well as fashion!!).  I go to school at the Art Institute of Charlotte for Fashion Marketing & Management. I have one older sister named Brittany and the most amazing parents in the world. In my spare time you can find me singing, scrapbooking, planning events, hanging out with friends, playing tennis, and just being adventurous.  I am a naturally lit portrait photographer based in Charlotte. I eventually want to incorporate event planning into my career as well.

Childhood Hero:
My childhood hero was my dad. I'm such a daddy's girl.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In the next 5 years I hope to move to the West Coast, get married, and work for someone great then eventually open my own photography and event planning company.

Be sure to keep an eye open for Bethany and I shooting up Charlotte this season!  I can't wait to work with this girl!