WPJA results in... I had a couple placements.

The Wedding Photojournalist Association's quarterly contests are getting more and more competitive. I think it's kind of cool to see different names up in the top ten each quarter. What I'm learning about the competition is this: When you think you have it figured out, you don't. Anyway, I was pretty happy with my placements.

Introducing... d i f f e r e n t family photography

I was a little unsure about offing family portrait sessions from the onset of this photography venture. I wanted to focus on the real moments at weddings and set myself apart with my work. But, I have to tell you, after a couple of really great sessions - I'm stepping into the game.

Of course, I may have spoiled myself because little baby Ryan here was a little doll. I really had fun with my buddy Maureen (Ryan's mom) and her husband, Ben. Ben is from New Zealand and I thought about asking him if he knew Brett and Jemaine from Flight of the Concords, but I thought better of it. He probably gets that a lot.

So, be on the lookout for a new website and leg of the business dedicated to family and kids photography. I'm definitely going to approach these sessions with the same candid approach I take with wedding photography... there will be very little direction and a lot of great real moments.

Enjoy:



























The slideshow is here.

StepUp - a workshop

If someone would have told me a couple of years ago that I'd be holding my own wedding photography workshop, I might have laughed in their face. I've never considered myself much of a public speaker. But, apparently, some people liked what I had to say at OSP-South in Charleston a couple of weeks ago.

I've never been one to hold anything back. So, when a couple of people suggested that I do my own workshop, I thought, "Well, why not?"

So, StepUp was born. This workshop will be about pricing, marketing and the art of wedding photography. We have some great guests lined up, including Punam Bean - a remarkable photographer based in New York City - and Joe Bunn, one of the southeast's most successful DJs.

We'll also have a live shoot with a bride and a full day of image critique.

Some quick facts:
When: Jan. 29-31
Where: Folly Beach, SC (near Charleston)
Cost: $600 ($300 retainer required to hold seat)

Here's the flyer:


The PDF version is here.

Hope to see you there!

Simon and Janet - renewed

Simon and Janet enjoyed getting married so much ten years ago, they decided to throw an amazing party for their ten year reunion and included a vow renewal ceremony. I knew right away I would hit it off with these two. Simon is a budding photographer himself, so he really appreciated all the work that went into the pictures.

They picked arguably the finest venue in town, The Umstead Luxury Spa and Hotel - an upscale, modern hotel with amazing grounds. The mighty DJ Joe Bunn laid down the soundtrack for this lovely couple. Fresh Affairs handled the amazing decor. These guys make my job a lot easier!

Charleston and the Karaoke machine

I've been a member of a photography forum called Open Source Photo for a few years. Wedding photographer and entrepreneur David Jay started the community back in 2004 to promote the sharing of ideas between wedding photographers. It has also become a place where you can go to get some moral support. When I left the newspaper world, I knew I would miss the human element of having a day job. OSP has helped fill the void. I've met lots of great people.

So, I offered to help organize this year's Open Source Photo meetup in Charleston along with Jason Tench of Blue Mountain Photo Works in South Carolina and Jill Higgins, a fantastic photographer from Georgia. It was a pretty incredible experience. It was my job to get speakers for the event. I asked several prominent photographers who are regular contributors to OSP - including David Jay himself, Kevin Swan, Carrie Viohl, Nathan Holritz, and Amber Holritz. And I thought I would even try my hand at speaking.

I was nervous as heck, considering the quality of the other speakers. But despite the lack of sleep the night before and some nervous rambling, I thought it went pretty well.

After all the learning, it was time to party! Not only did I rock Karaoke. I turned it into a verb.

I Karaoke.

This is me and the amazing Timothy Beckford of Timco Photography. "Listen all y'all, its sabotage... "


This is me absorbing Kevin Swan into my massive cranium.


The great Matt McGraw on the mic.


Here's me and my beautiful wife, Amy.


My good friend Christobal Perez of Azul Photography also came out to Charleston. He held a lighting workshop and I've heard some pretty rave reviews. Be on the lookout for a future lighting workshop with Chris. He's a magician with a strobe.

Bull City Engagement

Lisa and Joe love downtown Durham. And I can't say I blame them. In the past few years, the city has undergone some dramatic changes. They boast an impressive roster of restaurants, potential haunts and lots of character. Durham is a little bit of a hard luck story, which is why I can identify.

Here are some pics:
























And the slideshow is here.

A town named Oriental

Leah and J. really have great taste. They found a little (and little-known) town outside of New Bern, North Carolina, to throw their party of a lifetime. Oriental is a town wedged between the Neuse river and the intercoastal waterway. With this much opportunity for boating, it's no wonder that beautiful developments like River Dunes are starting to pop up in the sleepy town. Beautiful Charleston-style homes, a dollhouse of a church, and a reception venue that backed right up to a dock for quick escape all provided a beautiful backdrop for this wedding.

Leah had the most pleasant disposition and it was really awesome to work for her. She never stopped smiling.

Enjoy some pictures:





























We also had a lot of fun the next day with a day-after session, which is available as an add-on for select dates.













And a couple from Leah's bridal session... (This is what full-service is all about).







The slideshow is here.