It is through art and photography

that we are reminded a story is unfolding.

Here's some images from the Georgia wedding to tide you over until I can cull and edit the 900+ I took over the weekend.

Dantzler wedding recap...

Well Lydia and Leland's wedding is now behind me. It has been a long day, and I'm thankful the reception was very short. This morning I hung out with the "girls" as they got their hair done and they got ready. We went to this little hairstyling shop in Clayton (Georgia) called Images who's owner is named Jody. She's this fireball of a lady. Haven't we all heard that redheads are feisty? Well "feisty" is quite an understatement. She told all sorts of crazy stories, and talked and talked and talked. In true Southern fashion she had terms for things. Her favorite term was "Crazy as a bug!" Used in a sentence, "Adam came by the other day with this girl. She's crazy as a bug!, so I told him that he'd better be careful because I didn't want to hear he's having a baby after the prom."

As the wedding approached I was getting more and more nervous about things mentioned in the last post (being able to get close enough to get the shots I needed, etc.) Well... I made do and I think I'll have some ok ones. Nothing great because I couldn't get close enough to make the shots I wanted but overall I covered the ceremony well. Then the group shots were quick, simple, and fairly painless. There was a cool stairway at the venue that served group photos well.

I still don't have a card reader, even after a trip to the local Super Walmart. I had hoped to import my photos everyday and at least get the culling out of the way. Oh well. I'll have to wait to work on the images and you'll have to wait to see them.

Overall I'd give myself a score of a C for my images this weekend. Maybe seeing my work on my computer later will boost that grade. Hopefully.

I'll probably write another blog post about the pro's and con's of this shoot. That will be another day. Right now I'm going to clean up, and take a nap. It's hot and humid here in Northern Georgia.

OH! Three different business people asked me to send them photos from the weekend (restaurant where the rehearsal dinner was held, the florist and the baker.)

I'm really nervous about the wedding shoot "tomorrow" (technically today). I found out today that the groom's mom doesn't want me to walk around and be a distraction from the wedding. Not that I planned on being a distraction, but she seems pretty rabid about it. AND the couple really doesn't want posed photographs... Geez. I really hope I can get the angles and shots I need with my 24-70. And hopefully also some rad candids. Please say a prayer for me.

This trip has already been really frustrating. I left my Within The Frame book on the airplane, and now my card reader isn't working. Usually I'd run right out and buy another one but I'm literally in the middle of no where. The thriller movie Deliverance was filmed just down the street. Not even kidding. I'm probably 1/4 mile from Tallulah Gorge where it was filmed. At least I'm staying in a 3 Diamond rated hotel!

In the morning I fly out to Lakemont, Georgia to shoot my first wedding!!! I'm so stoked and crazy nervous too. I'll be sure to share photos with you when I return.

"Thank You!" Card is here!

I ordered custom thank you cards from Mpix on Sunday morning at like 4:30am, I got an email later that day saying that my order was completed, and shipped. I just received them in the mail today 4 days after placing the order. Aside from my roommate you all are the first to see them. I plan on sending them to clients after their session. I'm also thinking about putting together another one that goes out between booking and the shoot. $40.75 shipped for 25 cards with envelopes. Oh, and they're 5x7 glossy...

The image that I used for the front

UPDATE: I made a change to my wedding packages after placing this order. On one of my packages I said the couple would get 100 thank you cards. That would cut into profits by $150+. So on that package I decreased it from 100 to 50 cards. And on the other lower priced package I replaced the Blurb book with 50 cards. 

I see some benefits in these changes:

1. Increased profit margin.
2. Possibly additional profit if the couple wants more than 50 cards.
3. On my lower priced package I won't have to spend as much time creating a Blurb book yet the couple still receives something that is highly personalized that will be sent to friends and family.

This is the result of glamor shots using your pop up flash. 

(yes, that's me on the right)

Check out Kevin and Joanna's engagement shoot HERE!

Today's accomplishments:

• Engagement shoot (part deux) for my roommate Kevin.
• This time I got 4 hours of sleep instead of 3, so the shoot went much better.
• Images culled and most of them edited.
• 10ish mile mountain bike ride.

Over-all a great day, now off to bed early!

OH! PS, I actually placed my order this morning at about 4:30 when I got home from work. AND it was already printed and will be in the mail to me tomorrow! Mpix is rad... Yep.

Today's accomplishments (05-15-10):

• Created and ordered Thank You cards from Mpix. 
• They're simple, and rad.
• They feature one of my images on the front.
• I'll show you them when I get them...

A first!

The first time one of my photos has been used for an announcement

(well, anything really... haha) 

Boston Photos!

My images from my spontaneous Boston trip are up on my main photo blog! Check them out HERE!

3 - CONFESSIONS.

I'll have to write more about my Boston trip tonight, but for now I wanted to share probably my favorite photo with you; which was taken at the incredible Boston Public Library in Backs Bay.

ISO800 -- 70mm -- f/2.8 -- 1/3 sec

Spontaneous is the way to be!

I'm flying to Boston for the heck of it tonight to spend all day there tomorrow!!! Jetblue is having their 10th anniversary flight sale, with $10 one way flights!!! So look forward to some epic adventure photos............ AHHHHHH I can't believe I'm doing this!

Yesterday's accomplishments:

• Engagement make-up shoot was cancelled and my roommate and his fiancee said they liked the photos that I took anyways.
• Shot a little bit at a friend's bday party.

Today's accomplishments:

• Reviewed a couple wedding magazines in preparation for my first wedding shoot (as the primary (and only) shooter).
• Set up a portrait shoot for Tuesday!
• Went out on a friend's shoot to see how he conducts business, and wasn't all that impressed.

Today's accomplishments (05-07-10):

• Aside from almost falling asleep at the Fine Arts Center while trying to read Within the Frame, I really didn't do anything photo related.

Tomorrow's goals (05-08-10):

• Engagement shoot part deux for my roommate (I wasn't so happy with the first shoot).

Today's accomplishments:

• Mailed in my application and $$$ for the IPS Portraiture and Lighting class in Portland in July!
• Edited all the photos from the senior shoot.
• Had someone finally use my Zenfolio to make a purchase! 

Today's accomplishments:

• Tinkered very briefly with the senior photos from Saturday.
• Skype call with Christina.
• Framed two LARGE prints.
• Ate a vegan ice cream sandwich. 

"If you wait around to read the email when it pours into your inbox, will you ever have time to take pictures?

How many ideas will you miss by chasing the next best thing rather than finishing the project you’ve already started?

If you continue taking those crappy gigs that generate dogpoop looking photos or films, will you ever have time to create the ones you want?

What is the cost of doing things that your industry says are “normal”?

How many pictures will you let pass you by if you wait till you get a better camera, better lights, or better vision?

If you do what your teacher tells you to do without pushing the boundaries of photo school, will your work look just like everybody’s in your class?

How old will you be when you finally quit your day job because it sucks?

When was the last time you …created an uninterrupted day for yourself to do the things that you wanted to do, rather than attended to “obligations” that weren’t really obligations at all?

It’s great to please the world. To be a citizen, to answer the phone, to go out of your way, to… to…. to… But every once in a while, it’s healthy to do things on your own terms. Take a break from reacting and choose your own adventure this weekend." - Chase Jarvis

Today's accomplishments (05-01-10):

• Engagement shoot for my roommate and his cool fiancee.
• Senior photos for girls from a girls' home.