Dallas Wedding Photography

Dallas Wedding Photography: Amy and Jason E-Session

2010-11-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of meeting with Amy and Jason this past Saturday for their engagement session. It started off as a down right cool overcast morning in Deep Ellum before we moved to downtown. This is my last currently scheduled shoots for the year. Which kind of works out nice since Krista and I are flying out on Thanksgiving Day (Yes, I'm aware of the pat-down thing) to head to Ecuador for 10 days. We are visiting Krista's grandmother who retired back to Ecuador to the small town of Calderon just north of Quito. Apparently Krista's Great Grandfather used to own much of Calderon, and there is a, uh let's just say party, planned for the coming of the first great grandchild back to Calderon. I'm looking forward to some great times, and great pictures. I may have to wait to blog once I get back, but hopefully I can update at least with some pictures if not words. Anyways, back to Amy and Jason. They were great, and I had a great time shooting them. I always love meeting people in love!

Dallas Wedding Photography: The Other Things

2010-11-16T17:26:00.000-05:00

I had a great time down in Houston this past weekend. I went down to help out with a workshop that was being taught by Don Giannatti from Phoenix. Don is a great guy, seasoned pro photographer, graphic designer, art director, web designer, and all around "if it needs designing he's your man". I fit in somewhere between student and assistant over the weekend. I learn from watching Don work and teach, but I also helped the other attendees out as we broke out into group sessions. Greatly talented, creative bunch of shooters that came out. I'm glad I got to meet everyone of them. If you are a shooter I highly recommend attending one of Don's workshops. If you just want a great photography blog head over to Lighting Essentials by Don.

OK, so I got to practice some non-wedding work over the weekend.

Dallas Wedding Photography: Chassity + Roger

2010-11-06T10:10:00.000-04:00

I had a great time yesterday out at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden's Japanese Garden shooting Chassity and Roger's intimate wedding. Family centric, and just a perfect day to say "I Do!" This wedding was really out of my normal realm. I didn't have Krista because it was a bit of a last minute booking, and it was outdoors! It's interesting to not struggle with finding enough light for once. I almost had the issue of too much light! Either way it was gorgeous in the gardens. After the ceremony their family all got together at the Fort Worth Stockyards to celebrate. Great people, and lots of fun. As my usual the images say it all!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Trash The Dress

2010-11-03T22:07:00.000-04:00

Maybe the fad is fading away after having more than a decade long run. But that doesn't mean it is gone or is any less fun! I love shooting trash the dress sessions. But I have to admit I have never actually had a bride trash her actual wedding gown. I mean for as cool as we all would like to think we are at times; it is a lot of money and it holds a real sentimental value.

So what to do? I mean you can't just buy two gowns....or can you? Oh, yes you can. And cheaply too! My source for all things which shall be trashed......Goodwill. Maybe I'm fond of the smiling G because I used to work for them back in North Carolina. So on a recent trip to the Goodwill in Dallas on Westmoreland Rd to stock up on clothing for the two little girls we will be seeing while in Ecuador I found their stash of Wedding gowns.

So how much does a used Goodwill gown cost you ask?

If you hit them on the appropriate sale day, you'll even get 50% off! Now many of these gowns have nothing wrong with them they are just a bit outdated. I even happen to know that the Goodwill in Dallas steam cleans all of their clothing (I've seen it with my own eyeballs!). Of course the your saying, "Yeah John great. But one the odds of having a gown to fit me is slim, and I don't want my picture taken in a gown made circa 1974." And I would have to agree.

But here is the thing. Photos are magic! We can cut the gown, pin the gown, butcher the gown, etc. I've done it before. This dress used to have long sleeves!

So if you've always wanted to just let loose, have fun, and trash a wedding gown.....well we can make that happen!

Alright on to other things in this double header tonight. I'll be shooting a very small intimate wedding on Friday afternoon at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens in the Japanese Garden. Since I have never been out there before I took some time today to scout around. It was wonderful! I love weekdays when the weather is slightly drizzly like today. Folks just don't go out to parks and zoos. No screaming kids (Very nice at the zoo that way)! Let me just say if you are searching for a venue the Japanese gardens are very affordable and just drop dead gorgeous. I'm super excited to work some portraits there.

I love the Fall colors peaking through. I do miss that about NC. Right now back East is peak leaf color. If you love Fall I suggest you drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway which winds it's way through the Appalachian Mountains in NC.

I put this up on Facebook earlier, but I'll repeat myself here. If you're holding out on calling about your wedding photography I suggest you hurry and call. I'm already booking for Fall of next year and even summer of 2012. It's never too early; besides you'll get now prices not two years from now prices!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Kelsi + Boyce

2010-10-24T10:49:00.000-04:00

I've been slow on the blog front, but busy on the camera usage! I had the privilege of shooting Kelsi and Boyce's wedding day yesterday. Just a great couple, great family, and I really enjoyed being part of their day. Thank you to both of them for the honor. I really loved how they incorporated their love of baseball into their wedding. They both are huge Rangers fans, and you really can't get better than getting married the day after the Rangers win the ALCS! How huge of a fan are they you ask? Check out Kelsi's bridal photos.

These are awesome, and completely her idea!. I love it when brides know what kind of creative pictures they want. But for as sunny and happy as these photos are, and the fact that it has rain hard only once since I moved to Texas, wouldn't you know her wedding day started like this.

Seriously not good for someone who is going to be getting married outside! But there is a lesson for all brides here. Just have a little faith and patience. Because by the time it is said and done your wedding ceremony could be just gorgeous!

Beautiful sunset with great color in the sky that you only get with some clouds and a bit of rain. It always works out. Alright enough jabbering by me. Here are some more images from yesterday. Congratulations to Kelsi and Boyce!

Ok just one more comment. I love this ring shot. This pillow is being and held, and was made by Kelsi's grandmother. You can just see the love in her hands, I swear!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Lina + Ebby

2010-10-11T20:59:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Krista and I had the honor of shooting Lina and Ebby's wedding day. I think it is significant to say that they trusted us in a very unique way. Krista and I have never shot an Indian wedding before. So in reflection, and after having experienced the getting ready traditions, ceremonial traditions, and reception traditions I can see why choosing a photographer experienced in a particular culture is desirable. However, I do believe Krista and I were very successful in achieving the traditional images as well as incorporating our unique editorial style. So without further ado I will let the images speak for themselves.

Dallas Wedding Photography: Welcome Kelsi + Boyce

2010-10-05T22:49:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to have Kelsi and Boyce as the newest customers of John Leonard Photography. They are having their wedding on October 23rd in Corinth, Texas. I can't wait to knock out some great images for them. I'd also like to convey a special shout out to Jaclyn, Kelsi's friend, who connected us, and did the leg work. Every bride needs a Jaclyn! Maybe she should rent out her services as a wedding planner....hmmmm. Boyce, the groom to be, couldn't make tonight's meeting, but everyone say hi to Kelsi. feel free to leave a comment congratulating her and Boyce on the upcoming wedding.

Dallas Wedding Photography: How To Find A Budget Photographer On Craigslist

2010-10-04T22:15:00.012-04:00

Yes I am really doing a blog post on how to find a budget photographer. I promised it a while back, but I am just now getting around to typing this up. I probably should clarify that this is actually, "How to find a good photographer on a small budget." There are plenty of budget wedding photographers out there, but I can't have you wondering off into the inter-webs and get sucked up by some hack with a camera. I'd like to think of all brides as my flock, and I need to help guide you along in the right direction.

Why am I, a wedding photographer who charges on average $2,500+ Telling my potential customers how to score on the cheap? Simple, I sincerely believe everyone deserves good wedding photographs. People who are under more financial strains, belt tightening, or just plain thrifty are no less in love, and the day no less important than someone who can afford a world renowned shooter who charges $20,000+. Seriously, I have traveled down that road. If it wasn't for family and friends Krista and I would have had a wedding day that looked a lot like the inside of the local court house. I know that you all are out there, and I'm telling you it is O.K.! I don't want you to end up with someone who can't handle your wedding photos. So let me help.

First let's define what a small budget is. A small budget for wedding photography is between $500 and $1,000. You are not going to find any established professionals in this price range for a normal weekend wedding during peak season. So, let's pretend you are that person, and you really can't do more than oh say $500 plus maybe $200 for an album of some type and a few large prints. Where do you start? One place is all you really need: Craigslist. Yes the great free classified system is full of photographers of all various skill sets.

If you are not familiar with Craigslist it is a free online classified listing. Just go to Google and type in "Dallas craigslist". The first link that comes up is it. That will bring you to the main page, over on the left you need to type what you are searching for. You want a photographer so type photographer, and then in the drop down box select service since you are searching for a service provider.

Now when I did that it originally returned over 1,000 results! Not all of them budget mind you, or budget and good. I went back and narrowed it down by searching for wedding photographer.

Now this got me down to 431 results. Start clicking away. Browse and see what is out there. Many will list a starting price, just keep moving if it is beyond your budget. If you find one you like you may have to type their website address by hand. A lot of people don't know how to code in HTML and that is the only way to make links clickable on Craigslist. If their website looks good to you, and the images look good, and if pricing started out in your range you may be almost home. However, beware that some people will say "packages starting at $300" only to click over to their website and find out that is for only two hours of coverage and no images. Not what you need keep moving.

Now you may be tempted to just look at the ads with images in them. You can even search for just those ads, but I would advise you not to. Remember a lot of people do not know HTML in order to put images onto Craigslist. It doesn't mean they are not good photographers. I mean how many of you know how to use DOS? Probably few unless you've been a computer geek like me your entire life. So if you look at the above image, the 12th ad down is very basic it simply says "Wedding and Engagement Photography". I tell you why this is attractive to me. It is straight and to the point, no frills, not trying to suck you in with a catchy title. This person is confidant in what they are doing, no gimmicks. When you click on the ad this is what you see (Minus the blurred areas).

Very basic, no images, but again that is OK. The first blurred area is the craigslist email address. The second is this person's website address, and the third is their phone number. The last two are instant positives in my book, and here is why:

1) An actual custom website address is only $10 to register for a year, and come with one custom email address. Now that's not a website, just the name. But you can make a free website or blog display your custom URL for no cost. Blog sites such as Blogger by Google do this. So you can look professional quickly.

2) Phone number! This person wants you to call, they are begging for your business and they are not hiding behind the internet to sale you. Call them and talk to a real live person right now! I stick my phone number everywhere I can. I want my customers to call me. It's a business I don't screen my calls! And neither does this person apparently.

OK, other positives. Pricing is right there. $300 for all day wedding and images, $100 to book and hold your date, $100 for engagement. If you want bridals too I bet they'd be $100 also. So that brings your total to...........drum role..............$500! Boom right on budget! OK but what about work quality I mean we haven't even looked at their website yet.

Before we get there I will tell you why I felt confident even before I clicked over to their site. They mentioned they had a flash. They also listed specific models, but don't worry about that right now. They have flash, and are not scared to use it! Remember my previous post about what to ask a wedding photographer? Flash is necessary at almost every single wedding. It is technically a more advanced photographic skill to learn. This person is facing it, learning it, and is not scared of it. Great!

So I clicked through (No I'm not showing their site...this is my space and I'm doing enough free advertising for them here already!) and yep, their images are good. they show technical proficiency, and some artistic style. It is obvious they have room to grow and are learning, but overall they are good. At this juncture if I were that bride with just a $500 budget I'd be blowing this photographers phone up!

So what are the downsides to budget photography? I'll run through a few because everything in life is a trade off.

1) No back-up gear. You are just going to have to risk it. Photographers that fall into this realm are just starting out and the idea of owning a second camera body is overwhelming due to cost.

2) One photographer. You are not going to get two shooters for that price; just ain't happening.

3) Inexperience. They are probably not as familiar with the flow of a wedding as a seasoned pro. Expect delays to set-up for portraits, give them some extra time to make sure they know where to be and to get there for important shots like cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc.

4) Lack of creative and strong compositions. Expect a lot of snapshot style images inter mixed with some really good ones. Part of growing as a wedding shooter is learning how to compose strong images over an 8 hour day. It is mentally taxing, and it just has to be learned, there is no book on how to.

5) Uh, creative post processing. A lot of new photographers will over do it in Photoshop trying to make up for a bad picture, or boring picture. Just tell them they don't have to do that.

OK, so what should you discuss with this photographer? Start with the points I put up in my other post, just be aware you have to compromise on these. However, DO NOT COMPROMISE ON A CONTRACT! I don't care if it is written on a napkin, get it in writing from the photographer what you are getting. Discuss honestly the fact that you are on a budget, and they are just starting out and/or growing into wedding photography. Discuss how to make each other's day easier. Discuss lighting, then discuss lighting again, then once more for good measure. Odds are your budget photographer does not have the lenses need to shoot in low light. Don't let them sale you on the idea that they can. You will end up with blurry pictures. Think about having your wedding outside during the day, or n a very bright venue. Ask the photographer to come with you to check out the venue and bring their camera. I'd even go as far as to walk around and let them take photos of me while I'm moving just to make sure they can make a good image under the lighting conditions that will be present on your wedding day. Just approach this as a bit more leg work on your part, and realize you can help this photographer just as much as they want to take your photos. Make it a partnership, and you will get better images.

Now, what to watch out for.

1) Certifications. There are no certifying bodies or licensing bodies for photographers. It means nothing. There are a few in the industry that mean more to other professional photographers then it does our clients.

2) Promises not in writing. They may say, "Oh, I'm just doing this on the side. It's not a real business." Fine private parties engage in contracts everyday of the year. Get it in writing!

3) Pushy sales tactics. It is what it is, I personally don't do business with someone who approaches me with every tired old pushy sales tactic picked up from a 1972 used car salesman. I find it annoying. If they are just starting out then they really have no room to be pushy.

4) 100% payment at contract signing. Unless your wedding is within 30 days don't do this. 50% is the industry standard with the balance due by the wedding date.

5) Bad contact email and phone numbers. Make sure you call to verify the contact phone number and email to do the same before you put a deposit down. I don't want anyone walking off with your money in some kind of internet scam! (These people are not real photographers so don't lump real photogs into that group =) )

Alright, long, wordy, but I hope it helps you budget brides find some good photography. You deserve it! And if you can't find anyone whose style and work you like.....well you may have to cut somewhere else and up your budget for photography!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Have Camera, Will Travel

2010-10-04T10:52:00.000-04:00

What a week. Logged 2,210 frequent flyer miles, Shot two wonderful weddings, Shot one fashion family portrait session, and I even got to see my mom and dad! Yes, Krista and I headed back to North Carolina for a week to handle business I had previously booked.

You of course have seen some shots from Ashley and Adam's wedding. Here are a few more. I caved and have to put some up after Ashely messaged me on Facebook (Everyone does follow me on Facebook right?) and said that their Jamaican Honeymoon was a bit wet thanks to a tropical storm that decided it would like a week's vacation in Jamaica as well. Soggy wet memories that it may take a few years to dry out from, but I assured her that you all will laugh later.

Then after being rained out earlier in the week I was able to fit in a family portrait session for Leigh and Davon. You'll remember I shot Leigh and Davon's wedding back in the spring. Awesome couple, and I'm happy to call them friends.

Of course when you have a couple that just wants to bring the hotness in their family portraits, and then you have me shoot them....well let's just say these ain't Sears Studio portraits!

Oh yeah, family portraits John Leonard style......rock on.

And finally, but no less fun was the wedding of Tracy and Kevin. Just a great couple with a gorgeously small intimate wedding and reception that was all about family and friends. I love to see people celebrating life and those who are closest to them.

I love that last image. It really sums up the whole day for these two in my book; kicked backed, relaxed, and just soaking it all up! Awesome!

This week I have a meeting with a bride who is shopping for her photographer. Can't wait to show her some of these great images from this week. And of course I am prepping for Ebby and Lina's wedding this coming Sunday. Ebby, get me those pics so I can whip up that slide show for you this week!

And other then that I need to pay some attention to our four cats. They really get mad when we are gone for more than a day. So you can imagine their attitudes after a week....not happy campers!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Ashley + Adam

2010-09-26T10:01:00.000-04:00

After an 1,100 mile flight, little sleep, Krista and I made it to Ashley and Adam's big day. They had a beautiful day, and celebrated late into the night. These two were made for each other, and so much fun to work with. Here are some quick images from the day. The day started with everyone getting ready, even the puppies!

Tons of beautiful details everywhere

And then my favorite part of every single wedding day: The bride and groom immediately after the ceremony.

18 hour lipstick tends to stay on grooms for a bit less time!

And as always, the mother of the bride can't hold back the tears!

Congratulations to Ashley and Adam. Have fun in Jamaica, dodge the hurricanes and stay safe!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Wedding Photography Budget Part II

2010-09-13T12:21:00.001-04:00

Good Monday morning everyone. I hope your weekend was well, and if you are still thinking it is Sunday...well you really need to go to bed! I'm following up on a popular post where I discussed average wedding costs in the Dallas area. I'm going to be a little more specific today and discuss the photography portion. But before I get to that Fox 4 ran a quick segment this morning on saving money by being creative, but keeping the same feel to your wedding. Take a look.

Alright onto the budgeting of wedding photography. Does your wedding budget look like this?

or this?

Either way I am sure you don't want to feel like this:

But in all seriousness how do you know if you are wasting your money or paying way too much? Let's break it down into a few easy to understand points. I sincerely believe a better informed customer is a better customer. It is better for you to know how wedding photography pricing is derived so you can shop as an educated consumer.

If you remember back to the other post I recommended you spending about 10% of your entire budget on wedding photography. This will get you into the ball park of an average professional in your market. You may not get everything you were dreaming of, but you will get a professional. {ALERT} {ALERT} side track coming........ I understand that not everyone can afford a professional photographer. It is the truth. People get married every day with little or no fanfare. And with no budget for a wedding little alone a wedding photographer. I'm here to say to those folks, It's OK. I'm going to be posting a little later this week on how to score some photography on the way cheap.

Ok, sorry, so what do I mean by "ballpark" when I talk about a 10% budget? If your wedding budget is $30,000, and you budget $3,000 for photography in the Dallas market you will find you receive something like 8 hours of wedding day coverage, a basic print or album package. Not bad, but maybe you had your heart set on engagement and bridal sessions too. You also may want three to four large prints for your house, a nicer album, and say two parent albums to give as gifts. Well you just upped your bill to about 15-20% ($4,500 to $6,000) depending on the options. I'm just warning you now so you will not be shocked.

You may be asking your self, "How do photographers come up with pricing?" or "It's digital now why is it so expensive?" I'm going to break these questions down into two parts: Deliverables and Creative.

Let's talk Deliverables first. These are the items you actually can hold in your hand such as prints and albums. I think this is the easiest for folks to understand. They are receiving an actual physical product. It is easy to see that a better paper costs more money for prints or that a leather album costs more than one with a canvas cover, etc. Photographers will mark these items up in order to cover the actual costs we pay, time to post process images (color correct, sharpen, add contrast, etc), and obviously make a profit (yes folks we are in this to make money too!). The amount of profit or markup a photographer chooses to place on prints and albums can vary based on the photographer's work flow process. Some photographers process all of their own images and layout their own albums. Some outsource all of that to other companies or they may have staff. Either of those cost more money, and it get's passed onto the consumer. You will find that the more popular a photographer and if they travel for destination weddings that they tend to farm out these tasks because they have to be out shooting. Outsourcing these are not a bad thing, in fact the quality is often above what the photographer would do because the folks doing the work do it day in and day out. Think of like this: Your general family doctor could treat you for that broken foot, but he is going to refer you to a specialist because they do it more frequently and are more skilled. Same principle just minus the body parts and pain. You will see that print prices can double or triple with these highly sought after photographers due to this. Me? Well I outsource custom album designs, but I post process all of my own images still.

So deliverables vary in price based on quality, how the photographer handles their workflow, the profit margin the photographer is aiming for, and on quantity. Very often fulfillment labs will offer discounts for high volume customers, orders, or duplicate items such as two of the same album. Your photographer should be passing quantity savings on to you. I do. Make sure you ask your prospective photographer about that.

Second, and most likely the least understood, is the creative fee. This is what your photographer charges to show up and shoot. This really needs to be looked at separately from what your deliverables cost as they really have nothing to do with each other. Your wedding photographer must charge you to come out and shoot in order to cover expenses and make a living. I don't want to bore you with an economics lesson, but I am going to put into perspective how much it actually costs to be a wedding photographer with a quick list. It's not all inclusive, but you will get the idea.

Professional Nikon Camera Body: Nikon D3s $5,200
Backup camera body: Nikon D700 $2,200
Nikon 14-24mm lens: $1,800
Nikon 24-70mm lens: $1,700
Nikon 70-200mm lens: $2,200
Nikon 85mm lens: $1,300
Nikon SB900 flash: $460
Total of basic camera equipment: $14,860
Second photographer gear: $14,860
Basic lighting kit for group shots: $1,500
Insurance (annual): $1,200
Health insurance (annual): $3,600
Vehicle expenses (annual): $6,000
Second photographer pay (Annual): $5,000
Computer: $3,000

Total first year expenses: $50,020

In all seriousness that does not cover everything. There are some ways to cut corners on equipment costs, but the adage, "You get what you pay for" id very true when it comes to camera equipment. You may be thinking, "Yeah John, but once you buy that stuff you are set." Well, yes and no. Camera bodies have to be replace about every 18 months just like computers do. Especially if you shoot a ton, which wedding photographers do. There are shooters out there who run their cameras into the ground in a year they shoot so much. We're talking 1,000,000+ images per year. The lenses should last a very long time.....until you drop one and have to replace it. You either buy it outright or file an insurance claim, pay the deductible, and wait on a check. You have to plan, and budget for that.

Notice that these are just business expenses. What about a salary for myself so I can pay rent, buy groceries, buy my wife a Christmas present, etc? Don't get me wrong I am not bemoaning my career choice. I love it, and wouldn't trade it for anything. I just want you to think about what your photographer is actually trying to do. Now that you know all of this. Could you live off of $500 to $1,000 per wedding? Even if you shot 52 per year? Most likely the answer is no. Not to mention you'd never get a vacation or free weekend!

Alright enough with the boring economics of how to run a photography business. My point is this. Creative fees are a relatively non-negotiable item. You can choose to reduce the amount of coverage in order to reduce the price, but you will most likely be very unsuccessful in just trying to get a photographer to reduce his or her creative fee for the same amount of coverage. Make sense?

So how do you save money? Negotiate on print and album packages! At a certain point the profit margin on the creative service becomes very nice. If you were to approach a photographer and say, "Hey I'll book you for an engagement, bridal, and wedding day coverage at your rate if you can knock another 5% off of my print and album order." you most likely will find yourself making a heck of a deal, and the photographer will appreciate the fact that you aren't trying to talk them out of business. Negotiate deliverable prices, packages, maybe even quality (maybe a little better album for the same money). If you find you still can't meet your budget you should consider scaling back what services you are seeking. Maybe the photographer can do a couple of quick bridal portraits on the day of. There will not be as many, and they won't be on some romantic looking beach (unless that is where you are getting married of course) but you can save a little bit of money.

Finally, be honest with your photographer about your budget. I know people are hesitant to throw out how much they would spend because they feel like that is what the photographer is going to quote. This is just not true for professionals for several reasons. First we live on our reputation. If I charged you say $5,600 because that was your budget, and you then referred a friend to me. What if their budget was only $4,000 and I gave them exactly the same package you had. Don't you think that they will tell their friend, and then the next referral from them says there budget is $3,000 then the next is $2,000, and on and on. I'd walk myself right out of business and leave a bad taste in my previous customer's mouth. That is not the way we do business. Professional photographers have pricing structures and profit margins. We want you to get the most bang for your buck. happy customers send us more customers. tell us your constraints, be open minded, and we will work a solution to get you to where you need to be budget wise!

I hope this helps you understand how to approach your potential wedding photographer. One last thing. Don't forget that you are paying for an artistic service. You have to like what you see, not just the price point. Don't be scared to pay more for something which is visually attractive to you. These are your first memories as a family, love what you get!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Dallas Wedding Venues

2010-09-10T21:47:00.002-04:00

Hey, sorry for the two day absence on the blog. The camping trip and subsequent cleaning up afterwords has kept me busy. I have a couple of things to cover in this blog so I will jump right to it.

First I want to introduce you to Ebby & Lina and welcome them to John Leonard Photography's extended family! Krista and I will be shooting their wedding next month. I am really looking forward to it. It will be the first time I have shot an Indian wedding. It is going to be gorgeous. I want to thank them for hiring me. It always means so much to me every time someone trusts me with their wedding day. So THANK YOU! And here is the lovely couple.

On with the meat of this post I guess. I have been keeping my eyeballs open for wedding venues that I find to be just visually spectacular and/or have some really cool deals going on.

First up: Off The Grid

I do not have images of the venue, but they are posted on their website. I'm going to give them an email and see if they will let me shoot some images there to show everyone here. But here is the description from the website.

The historic Dallas Power and Light Substation used to power the city street lights. The building has been restored and renamed OFF THE GRID. It’s powered up and ready for your special event.

OFF THE GRID has 3 floors with up to 6,500 Sq/Ft and a large outdoor patio area and green space.

Check them out. It looks just perfect for the urban modern wedding with stunning views of Downtown Dallas.

Second Up: The City Club

First off, WOW! Stunning views from the 69th floor of the Bank Of America building in Downtown Dallas. Take a look at their website for a great photo slideshow. Here is what they say about it.

Located high atop the Bank of America Plaza Building, The City Club provides the most breathtaking views of the City. The floor to ceiling windows that surround The City Club, offer a 360 degree panoramic view that definitely creates a romantic setting for your special day.

Hosting up to 500pp, The City Club provides the perfect setting for your Wedding Ceremony, Reception and Rehearsal Dinner. In the finest tradition, The City Club has enjoyed a long-standing reputation in Dallas for its high quality of service and culinary skills. Let us customize an unforgettable menu that is sure to “wow” you and your guests.

Third Up: The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas

Well, what need I say...."Putting On The Ritz". Now it obviously is not the cheapest venue in the world, but it does offer all inclusive luxury at a not to unreasonable per person price. I stumbled upon a new promotion they are running in conjunction with The Ritz-Carlton, London. i found this information on LoveTripper.com, I am quoting this from their site:

Truly a match made in heaven, The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas and The Ritz London have collaborated to unveil a new nuptial offering which allows lovebirds to say “I do” in Dallas, then fly away for a London honeymoon.
A first for the two hotels, the partnership provides a combined wedding andhoneymoon experience offered as a complimentary upgrade for couples who purchase The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas’ Ritz-Carlton Royalty wedding package, which requires a minimum of 400 guests with a contracted rooms and premium food and beverage commitment.
Priced at $275 per guest, The Ritz-Carlton Royalty Wedding Package offers:
Rose petal turndown in a Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Luxury Suite for the wedding night.
Two deluxe Rooms for the parents of the newlyweds.
Access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Level for for the bride and groom and their respective parents.
The opportunity to unwind with a gift certificate for a couple’s massage, courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Spa.
$500 credit for botanical beauty though Bella Flora of Dallas.
A chance to relive the romance with a first wedding anniversary certificate for a one-night stay in a Deluxe Suite.
A wine pour and custom-designed Ritz-Carlton, Dallas wedding cake, which is part of a four-course reception dinner that also includes a four-hour premium bar package.
Guests can greet the sunrise at an all-night “Afterglow” party.
After the wedding day festivities, here are a few of the honeymoon highlights the newly-pronounced husband and wife will enjoy at The Ritz London:
Round-trip flight for two between Dallas and London.
The Ritz London’s Rolls Royce Phantom will take twosomes from the airport to the hotel.
A four-night stay at The Ritz London.
A Full English breakfast every morning.
Accompanied by a private guide, couples can enjoy a day of sightseeing in style in The Ritz Rolls Royce Phantom, which will take the newlyweds to London’s top tourist attractions including The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, The Palace of Westminster and Kensington Palace.
An individual consultation with John Williams, MBE, the hotel’s Executive Chef, and Thomas Sorcinelli, the hotel’s Head Sommelier, to create a unique six course dinner paired with fine wines.
A shopping spree for souvenirs of their stay during a personalized guided shopping tour of Bond Street.
A Champagne Afternoon Tea for two in The Ritz’s renowned Palm Court, followed by a visit to a London theatre show of the couple’s choice.
Newlyweds will be dazzled by the diamonds at private viewing of Ritz Fine Jewellery’s latest collection.
Complimentary membership, during stay, of The Ritz Club and Casino.
Couples can drink a toast to their happiness during a “Champagne Flight” in a private capsule on The London Eye Ferris wheel.
The Ritz-Carlton Royalty wedding package is one of three comprehensive new wedding packages offered by The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. Entitled Southern Chic, Texas Traditions and Ritz-Carlton Royalty, the three wedding packages are priced beginning at $125 per person, with differing complimentary honeymoon offers applying to some of these options as well.

So you get a spa, honeymoon accommodations in London, an upscale venue, reception, gourmet meal, and wedding cake for $275 per guest. OK, not cheap, but serious luxury!

I'm going to keep looking for great places and updating on a regular basis so keep checking back!

Dallas Wedding Photography: What Does Love Look Like?

2010-09-07T11:10:00.001-04:00

This is a bit of a personal post so you will have to indulge me just a little bit. Krista and I went camping over the long Labor Day weekend. We headed northwest from Dallas setting our eyes on the Palo Duro Canyon. I absolutely fell in love with the place, and I recommend everyone to go there even if you just drive through it.

Krista is, let's just say a city girl. I mean she grew up in Miami, FL so hiking and camping is just not her thing. Me....Boy Scout 100%. Give me a knife, some matches, and a bottle of water and I am good. But you know over the years Krista has gotten me to do a lot of new things. That is the real beauty of marriage. We each make the other person's life experience richer. So this time it was my turn.

We set up camp on the floor of the canyon. Then set out to grab some pictures as the sun went down. A note for all you aspiring shutterbugs. To get nice landscape shots shoot when the sun is low on the horizon. Either early morning or the last hour or so of daylight. Also if you under expose your image a little bit you get really saturated colors.

We headed back to camp, and I started a fire. We had some visitors. To which Krista did not like! But then again the stick bug was just resting on me...along with two praying mantis and some moths.....I tell you I am Dr. Doolittle even to bugs!

The next morning we were up, and hitting a four mile hike on the canyon floor. What an amazing place. A new post card around every bend. I took my Polaroid camera with me. You should have seen the looks I was getting as I was using it!

Krista did great on her first hike. I mean four miles in 95 degree heat is no joke. Lots and lots of water! But you know as wonderful as all of the new scenery was to me it would have been just a bunch of rocks and trees without someone special to share it with. I can say that after 13 years of marriage we are just now hitting our stride. It takes time, but the memories you make along the road of life together are just magical. We spent the whole weekend laughing about everything, joking about how we used to be. Remembering funny things, not so funny things then but funny now, and just enjoying still being in love with one another. My favorite part was our last night there. I took the cover off of the tent so we could just lay there and stare up at the stars together. We fell asleep under a blanket of stars that has seen many lovers do the same. So to me love looks like a starry night.

And to my wonderful wife.....I love you more now then yesterday, and the stars are witness to that.

Dallas Wedding Photography: FAQ Friday!

2010-09-03T14:32:00.000-04:00

I'm going to make Fridays a time to throw up some FAQs. Let's go with the first one ever!

Q: Do you always use two photographers? Can I get a discount for just you?
I always use two photographers. My second shooter is my wife, Krista. I do not offer a discount, and would not shoot a wedding day by myself. There is just too much going on. For my style of shooting I like to have someone as a bit of a safety net while I really push the creative envelope. Sometimes I go over the creative edge, and that is where a second shooter is nice.

Q: Do I receive all of the files digitally and the rights?
I offer as an option for purchase (or if your print and album order is over a certain amount) a disk of high resolution images. I retain the actual copyright. what you receive is a usage license to print the images as many times you'd like at any lab you'd like.

Q: (This one just asked today, thanks Ann!) Can you print images at the reception?
I can! Just know that this is the most expensive way to print, and prices I charge reflect accordingly. If you know how much ink costs at Wal-Mart for your printer you know what I mean! I am currently limited to just 4x6 prints on location. Anything larger is almost cost prohibitive for anyone.

Q: Do I have to pay for prints and albums up front?
Yes, I know that this makes some folks nervous, but it is industry standard just like paying the full balance before the wedding date. If a person was to order album and prints that is a considerable production expense on my part. if they were never picked up and paid for I can not sale them to someone else. They are a custom ordered product!

Q: Do you use flash?
Oh yeah! In fact it is my specialty. I use multiple flash units off camera throughout engagement and bridal sessions, and on the wedding day. I have actually taught classes on it, attended workshops in NYC with world renowned photographer Joe McNally. I love flash!

Q: Do you use backdrops for portraits?
No. I am what is referred to as an environmental photographer. I am to use the surroundings you select and incorporate those into your images. Just think, you pay all that money for your venue and decorations. Why not show it off?

Alright, more next Friday. Of course you can always send me an email or hit me up on Twitter or Facebook!

Dallas Wedding Photography: How Much Will Your Wedding Cost?

2010-09-02T16:55:00.000-04:00

I think it can be really hard for brides to get a real idea of what they will probably spend for their wedding. A really neat site to help you estimate what the going average in your area is www.costofwedding.com. Just punch in your zip code and your off.

So how does the Dallas area measure?

Total Average Wedding: $23,201 - $38,668

Wedding Dress - $944 - $1,573
Makeup - $59-$98
DJ- $682 - &1,136
Live Band - $1,565 - $2,609
Bridal Bouquet - $120 - $200
Flowers - $1,785 - $2,975
Invitations - $614 - $1,024
Jewelry - $4,961 - $8,268
Wedding Planner - $1,065 - $1,775
Reception Venue - $2,272 - $3,786
Wedding Cake - $322 - $536
Videographer - $1,161 - $1,935
Photographer - $1,592 - $2,654

You can drill down into that list as much as you want once on the website. I want to touch on the photography point. It is also stated on the website that experience or sought after photographers can be much more. My brides are averaging right on $2,700 when they use me. I think a good rule of thumb for wedding photography is 10% of your total budget. Your basically going to have three tangible things years from now: Your rings, Your video, and your photographs. It makes since to spend the most on these three items. I'd say you can get by without the video and spend more on photography, but don't tell the videographers I said that!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Gorgeous Gowns

2010-09-02T12:07:00.000-04:00

I was flipping through the channels this morning trying to find the Price is Right, and I came across The View. Normally I wouldn't stop, but I saw designer Vera Wang sitting there. They did a small runway show of some of her Fall 2010 line including new wedding gowns like this one.

Of course her gowns start at about $4,000.00 but you can get an idea for trends, and of course always find something similar by a different designer. Check out the entire Vera Wang Fall 2010 Bridal Collection.

Dallas Wedding Photography: Super Sexy

2010-09-01T23:31:00.003-04:00

There is a growing trend in wedding photography for images that just ooze sex. I'm being serious here! Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm not talking soft porn or just plan trash. I mean tasteful, provocative images that show how gorgeous every single bride is on her wedding day. Some will go a bit further and opt for a full boudoir session which may contain some partial nudity. I've shot some of those sessions (obviously those pictures don't go out to the public on my website or blog!) I have however shot a number of just sexy images with brides, especially during trash the dress sessions.

One of the things I try to do is keep an old wedding gown laying around. I usually pick one up from the local Goodwill. I have one in my storage unit right now. I find something of average size and length and buy it. You have to remember that these trash gowns don't have to fit perfect. We can pin them, cut them, stitch them, or whatever we have to. I love these sessions, and so do my brides. I want to show you a few images from two brides and talk about the making of them. (Caveat here that both of these lovely ladies have allowed me to use these images for portfolio purposes and to show public. I'd never betray anyone's trust on something like that)

First Image

This is a photo of Cicily (Who by the way is shaping up to be one heck of a wedding photographer herself in North Carolina. Visit her at www.stillheartphotography.com). The first thing to note here is that we cut a slit right up the side of the gown. All the way up to her hips. The lighting was just perfect without me having to do anything. There was a big frosted window behind her which just bounced right up off the floor to mostly silhouette her. So why does this image work? One word: Curves! You have to show off a bit. I mean gowns are gorgeous, but show some leg and watch your soon to be husband go crazy! It is tasteful and a lot more sensual because she is mostly hidden in shadow.

Image Two

Here Cicily is again, same location, but now moved into the window. You can now see the slit, and of course those bright red hose and heels. So what really makes this image work? Contrast! The hard edgy light, deep shadow, and then POW and explosion of color leads your eye right to her legs. This was lit with one small flash unit.

Image Three

Say hello to the lovely Leigh. To say she worked on this gown would be somewhat of an understatement.....it used to have sleeves! Really she cut it down to the corset, and once on the beach I again cut slits up both sides to her hip. If you'll notice the gown became rather translucent once it was wet. Lady's please make sure you are wearing a nude colored bra that doesn't do that! Obviously the location here plays a huge roll, as well as the time of day. The ocean, the geometry of the piers, and that beautiful golden sunlight of late day. Needless to say we drew a crowd at Myrtle Beach, SC running around in the water, but we both had fun!

Image Four

Again with Leigh at the exact same location. This time in B&W. The thing I really love here is her hair. Totally wind swept, mysterious, and sensual. She looks like a maiden of the ocean walking onto shore. Again natural light, and Leigh just relaxing and letting herself feel as beautiful as she looks, just gorgeous.

I have to admit that when I do these beach shoots I often ask my brides to imagine they are in a Chris Isaac video; come on you know the one! ( I admit I think that way too! Hence a lot of black and white)

But really, these types of images are really catching on. They are very memorable for whomever you decide to show them to. You get to let go, have fun, and create some super sexy art!

What Do You Ask a Wedding Photographer?

2010-09-01T01:30:00.001-04:00

I was surfing some popular wedding planning, information, and advertising sites tonight and it struck me how much outdated information is out there. It really concerns me because some of these sites (I'm Knot Knaming Knames but one of them started with a K) are very well respected, and almost a goto source for brides to be. I mean nothing was actually incorrect about the information, but just old. Many, many, many of the articles, FAQ, and checklists all revolved around film. And that is great if you are hiring a photographer who shoots film. So I thought I'd do an update here.

What Do You Ask a Potential Wedding Photographer?

This is one of the most important days of your life. I want you to have good questions to go into these meetings with vendors. So these questions are what I think are really important to ask any photographer you are thinking about hiring. I'm going to list the question, and then tell you why it is so very important.

How many back-up cameras, lenses, flash units, and memory cards do you have?

Notice that this question is not, "Do you have a back-up camera?" Any wedding photographer worth his or her salt knows that you absolutely must have back-up equipment. Two cameras gives me a sufficient comfort level as long as the second is not a point and shoot. Lenses, well that can be a little tricky. It is not necessary to have the exact same lens, but it is a good idea to have at least two lenses that cover the "normal range" of between 35mm to 85mm. Don't worry if you have no idea what that means, just ask the photographer if he dropped and broke his lens during the ceremony does he have another that he could use without having to move closer or further away. Flash units, O.K. I'll cut some slack here. It is not necessary to use flash, and there are some fabulous wedding photographers who don't. But most do, and they should have spares. Finally memory cards, this seems silly right? It is not, it may be more important than a back-up camera. They make memory cards so large that I can shoot well over 4,000 images on one card. Cool right? What happens if that card goes bad, gets lost, damaged, or just plan breaks? You loose all of your images. Now compare that to someone who switches out cards every 200-300 shots. You'd only loose some of your images. I've never had it happen, but I'm not taking chances you know.

Do you use lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or greater?

And your eyes just glazed over! I'll make this very easy. The aperture is the hole light passes through, the bigger the hole the more light. A bigger hole is represented by the f/number. The smaller the number the bigger the hole (kind of backwards I know). These lenses are also called "Fast". It be perfectly acceptable to ask, "Do you use fast glass?" You want your wedding photographer to have lenses with f/numbers of f/2.8, f/2, f/1.8, and f/1.4. They need at least one lens with one of those numbers. This is important because those lenses allow more light in, so if you are in a dark environment like a church your pictures ultimately come out sharper. Additionally they are better built (Think less chance of breaking) using better optical glass in them for better images. Think of it like this you can have a Alpine stereo in your car with 4,000 watts of power, but if you have cheap factory speakers it does you no good. So why wouldn't wedding photographers just buy these good lenses then? Well they can be very expensive with prices approaching and sometimes going over $2,000 each!

Do you use a second photographer, and is that included in the price?

Again, it is not mandatory, but recommended. A skilled second shooter doubles your chances of getting great shots. It definitely means you will get a second angle of important moments. Second shooters will cost a photographer about $200 per day so expect to pay for that comfort, but it is worth it.

Do you use flash or just available (or ambient) light?

Again this is a preference, but it is important because you need to consider your venue. If you know your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are all going to be very dimly lit then it may be necessary for the photographer to use flash. Now if you are in a bright venue or outside it might not be necessary. Sometimes you do have to use flash on very bright days to fill in shadows from hard sunlight or when the sun is behind the subject. It is a lot about style, but take that style into account when you plan your venue. If you really love a photographer who only uses available light then talk with them about what they need to produce gorgeous images for you. If you choose a flash photographer make sure their images are lit nice and even in a style that looks good to you!

Do you do a lot of post processing (some people will say photoshop) on your images?

Not every photographer uses Photoshop (including me) there are some very powerful image editing tools out there that cost a lot less that work just as well for photographers. Every wedding photographer should include basic color, exposure, and contrast corrections with their images. Some people, photographers and couples, really like images with very heavy editing or artistic effects applied. That is purely a style point, but make sure you know what your potential photographers style is. The really big point here is to not assume that the photographer is going to remove aunt Betty's mole from the end of her nose in over 300 images for free! Detailed editing and touch up takes a considerable of time. Time you will have to pay for if you ask. It is customary for retouching such as skin softening, minor blemish removal, and eye and teeth whitening to be done on portraits. I do that for engagement and bridal session free of charge. These are often the images that get printed the largest, placed out for everyone to see. Make sure you ask if this is done.

How many finished images can I expect with my package?

Your photographer should be able to give you an approximate number based on how many hours they will be shooting. You are not going to get every image. Photographers only release images which meet their quality standards. It is a form of brand protection. Even the most famous photographers in the world take bad photos! The trash goes in the trash!

Can I have a list of what I will be receiving in this package attached to my contract?

Wow, that one is full of meaning! Let's go piece by piece. First, many people shy away from contracts. We feel they are an obligation, we get nervous, we doubt, etc, etc. They are in fact an obligation by you. But guess what, they also are an obligation by your photographer to perform and deliver a service and/or product! By making sure everything the photographer promised you is in writing on the contract you are signing you are protecting yourself too. Don't take, "Oh I do that for all of my clients." Make them right it down on the contract. Make sure the contract has their contact information, it guarantees your date, and all services, prints, and albums you agreed upon. If they don't have a contract, walk away. Seriously, walk away!

Now how about some questions you don't need to ask!

How many megapixels (MP) is your camera?

When digital first hit big, that might have been important. Any digital SLR (DSLR) camera bought within the last four years is more then sufficient to shoot weddings, magazine ads, or even billboards from a resolution standpoint. Megapixels are just a measurement of resolution. In fact Cannon manufactured a great high end point and shoot camera called the G10 (I own one) the next model was the G11. The G11 actually had fewer megapixels! Why you ask? Well, a camera's sensor has to be a fixed size. The more pixels you cram into that space you can destroy image quality, especially when shooting at a high ISO level.

How many rolls or type of film will you be using?

Obviously shooting digital does not require film. But I guess for the sake of talk if you are using a photographer who uses film expect them to be a lot more expensive. Film has gotten very expensive along with processing it. A roll of 120 film, getting it developed, and scanned will run a total of about $17 - $20 per roll! And that is for 12 pictures.

I really hope these question gets you thinking about what you should ask every potential photographer. if you have questions about...uh...the questions shoot me an email.

Wedding Photography: Super Discounts! New Albums!

2010-08-31T16:45:00.001-04:00

Yes the deal is really that big! Thanks to my partnering print labs and album manufacturers I am able to offer some great discounts to my clients. So here they are:

For every referral you send to me, that books a wedding with me you will receive $200 in print and album credit. That'll go a long way with my low print prices. Make sure you tell your referral to mention your name!
If you order $500 or more in prints and/or albums you will receive all of your images on DVD in high resolution along with a limited release so you can make prints. That is a $400 value. It's like getting $500 in prints for just $100!
For every $1,000 in prints and albums you order take an additional 5% off up to 20%!

Oh maybe the best part....All of those deals can be combined!

Hurry go tell your friends, family, howl at the moon, or whatever you have to do!

A really, really big thanks to my partner labs for making this happen. Without you guys I'd be lost (or at least more expensive which no one likes).

NEW ALBUMS

Alright, after 3 years of using my old album company I am happy to announce that I have onboard some new album manufacturers. You all know me, I'm all about simple but I did have to step it up just a little bit. I now have two main categories of albums: Standard lay flat design with 2mm thick pages, supple leather cover, and the new Couture albums (with over 31 designs, 8 sizes, and most designs have 3-5 color options)!

First the standard leather albums. They open and lay flat. The image can span the seam in the album. They are just gorgeous, and have some really bright color options for the cover.

I am really excited about a very special deal on these. New 4x4 albums that make just great parent albums. The best part is you can get two of them for $175! One for each set of parents for under $200; you just can't beat that. here are what they look like.

As you see they are the same great lay flat layouts, same bright colors, just smaller and perfect for parents, relatives, and friends. You can keep one in your desk drawer at work to pass around when you get back from your honeymoon!

I am super excited about the Couture line of albums. I mean these albums are stunning, stylish, and well couture! Up to 300 pages printed on quality art grade paper. Each one is hand crafted with features such as hand torn edges, hand sewn leather, and optional matching handcrafted display boxes.

There are so, so many options the easiest thing for you to do is just download a PDF catalog that shows all of the designs and color options.

DOWNLOAD COUTURE ALBUM

If you don't like clicking on links and downloading from the internet I understand. Send me an email and I will email it to you instead!

Couture albums start at just $885. Let's see what else.....oh yeah did I mention that for a limited time a second Couture Album of the same layout of equal or lesser value is 50% OFF! Can you say BOGO!

Again, a really big thanks to my industry partners that have made this happen. I'm happy to pass all of these amazing savings onto all of my clients.

Long Weekend

2010-08-30T15:17:00.000-04:00

Hey, sorry for not posting over the weekend. I think you'll understand when I tell you that it was mine and Krista's 13th anniversary last Friday. I just can not believe we have been together that long. Man, we got married young! I love her more every single day. I cooked us nice dinner on Friday (Yes folks I'm actually a very good cook too!) We had a couple bottles of wine and just spent the evening together. Our anniversery present to one another was to hit the Allen Events Center last night to see two legends, no maybe gods, of music: B.B. King and Buddy Guy. We both loves the blues, and the show was great. Buddy is 75, and B.B. will be 85 in a few weeks, but man they can still belt it out, just amazing.

She is out of town this week. Dropped her off at DFW International this morning, and I miss her already. But we have a great Labor Day weekend camping trip planned for the Palo Duro Canyon. It has been a very long time since I went camping, and this is going to be lots of fun. I'll be taking some new toys with me. I have an old Polaroid SX-70 and some film from The Impossible Project since Polaroid doesn't make film anymore. I also have a Holga I'll be using.

So what does this have to do with wedding photography you are wondering? Two things: first I intend on using both of these cameras from now on at all engagement, bridal, and wedding shoots. So, just don't be embarrassed when your photographer uses a Polaroid! Really the unique and artistic feel of these two cameras are just amazing. Second, I have fallen in love with Palo Duro from the images I have seen. So I have an open request to all brides to be. I really want to do some amazing bridal portraits out there. You will need to be up to hiking with a wedding dress (You don't have to wear it while hiking, and it doesn't have to be your actual wedding gown!) for several miles with a crazy photographer to get some pictures like no one else! So if you are up for it send me an email. I'm serious here, email me let's talk.

Inspiration From Everywhere

2010-08-26T09:55:00.000-04:00

One of the really cool things I get to do, or maybe have to do, as a photographer is to actively seek out visually inspiring images, video, drives, places, or whatever. Not that I'm seeking to copy anyone, but just to take away a fresh perspective and get a bit of inspiration. Recently I found two wedding videos that are simply stunning. I mean they are knock you on your butt, make your jaw drop, make you say "Was this a real wedding?" (Krista actually asked me that!); just plain full of awesomeness! They are from the wedding of super model Coca Rocha and artist James Conran. Let me just add here that both of these individuals are just great at finding beauty and glamor in just dang gone near everything. Their children are going to be fashion mega stars, gods, or something like that I'm sure. It was shot by Americana Cinema. Anyways take a look at these two videos and tell me what you think in the comment section. Was it over the top? Way too much? Is it your dream wedding? Would you have toned it down? Are supermodels too thin? Did you find the visual aspect stunning? Are you now considering booking Americana Cinema? Whatever, I want to hear from you!

Coco + James // Teaser from Americana Cinema on Vimeo.

Coco + James // Short film from Americana Cinema on Vimeo.

My First Wedding Photography Clients In Dallas

2010-08-25T15:45:00.001-04:00

Wow, I am super excited to have Lindsey and Graham as a client. They are getting married on May 7th, 2011. I can't wait to get to shooting their engagement photographs. I'm also really excited about my website. I've spent a number of hours freshening up the site. Take a look at it, and make sure you check out my new promo video. I talk about why I am a wedding photographer, and how I work. It really is a look into who I am and what I offer to brides as a photographer.

I have a lot on tap this weekend. I'm hunkered down in a workshop about wedding photography. I'm always looking to improve my abilities to provide service to my clients. I am really looking forward to spending time with Krista. She will be gone all week next week back to NC. But before she goes we will be catching B.B.King and Buddy Guy live on Sunday! Wow, I have been wanting to see B.B. for years. I love the blues, I love a great concert, and I love the emotion of just the whole thing. Best part is Krista is will be with me.