Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill wedding photographer Jim Colman

New Website coming soon!

2011-01-13T14:26:00.000-05:00

I am in the process of creating a new website where all my wedding, engagement and lifestyle photos will be on display. My goal is to have faster loading sites for all my clients.

This website will remain as my primary site for my commercial work and will get a new URL. Eventually this site will be found at www.colmanphotography.com while my wedding work will be found at www.jimcolmanphotography.com

In the meantime, please continue to enjoy this site and I hope you are patient as everything gets migrated over to my new website!

Thad and Renee

2010-11-27T11:52:00.002-05:00

I first met Thad and Renee last April when I shot their engagement session. I knew right then that their wedding was going to be special. This delightful couple embodies the essence of love and joy. They were married on November 20, at the New Sandy Creek Baptist Church in Henderson. Their reception was held at the Henderson Country Club. The day was picture perfect!

I also had the pleasure of working alongside a good friend of mine, wedding photographer Alessandro Di Sciascio, who flew in from Miami to assist me on this wedding.

I hope you enjoy viewing these images as much as Alessandro and I did creating them.

Christi and Parker

2010-11-17T20:38:00.000-05:00

The North Hills Club was the setting for Chrisi and Parkers nuptials. The day was perfect, albeit a bit chilly after the sun went down. They also had one of the most beautiful wedding cakes I've ever seen! It was only out-shined by Christi in her wedding gown.

I hope you enjoy just a few of the hundreds of photos I snapped.

Courtney & Paul

2010-11-08T21:37:00.011-05:00

Yesterday turned out to be a beautiful day and I had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful couple! Courtney & Paul chose to have me shoot their engagement session at Yates Mill Pond. If you've never been there, I urge you to visit sometime---it's a beautiful old mill located just off of Lake Wheeler Road south of Raleigh. But be careful if you visit...you might step on a photographer as you wander the grounds. (There had to have been 9 or 10 of us out there.)

Courtney is an NC State gal and Paul is a Carolina boy, but they showed that love transcends all boundaries!

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed shooting them.

Kim & Daniel

2010-11-07T21:23:00.017-05:00

What's a Halloween without a wedding? No spooks, goblins, or witches showed up at this lovely wedding...only a beautiful bride and her handsome groom.

Kim and Daniel exchanged their vows at the Garner United Methodist Church. Their reception was held at the Rand-Bryan House also in Garner. This was another family wedding for me---that makes two in one month! Daniel is the son of my step brother-in-law (Daniel's dad and his step-mother joined my wife and me on our trip to Italy this past summer). But I digress.... This was a lovely wedding, complete with jack-o-lanterns, chocolate fountains, and one of the most moving toasts I've heard in a long time.

Enjoy!!

The guys let off a little steam in the church's gym.

Look close at this photo!

Nicole & Matt

2010-11-05T20:03:00.001-04:00

As I write this, Nicole and Matt are trying to make their way home from their honeymoon in the Caribbean but are stuck due to the hurricane. I wish them Godspeed and a safe trip home.

They were married at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Durham, which is a lovely venue. The day was bright and sunny, which despite the myth that a sunny day is the best for shooting pics, makes for a more challenging photography assignment. Still I think I managed to pull off some wonderful photos of this wonderful couple.

Nicole and Matt opted not to do a traditional engagement session prior to their wedding, rather we are going to shoot an "after wedding" session. I'm really looking forward to working with them again!

Enjoy the photos!

The guys waited until the very last minute to get dressed because there was football on!!

Crystal & Darren

2010-10-30T09:49:00.001-04:00

The Orchard House in Concord was the site of Crystal and Darren's wedding. The day was picture perfect with clear skies and cool temperatures.

Crystal has a special place in my heart as she is my son-in-law's sister! Having my family at a wedding is always a treat! Of course, this also meant that my wife was pressed into service as my assistant at times and she did an exceptional job.

I was honored and proud to be the official photographer for her big day and I hope you enjoy the photos.

"Sparty" was in attendance as well!

The couple had each guest sign a quilt square!

The toasts were awesome!

Going for the garter with some miners gear has to be a first!

Michael & Sarah

2010-10-22T09:35:00.000-04:00

This wedding has to rank right up there as one of the most fun weddings I've ever shot! Look up "fun couples" in the dictionary and you'll see a photo of Michael and Sarah.

This lovely couple exchanged vows at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA where they make their home.

I shot over a 1000 photos and have way too many good ones to post up so I'm going to try and limit myself to posting just a few random favorites. Enjoy!!!

Meghan & John

2010-10-04T23:12:00.002-04:00

What do you get when you combine a Duke student and a Carolina student? Would you believe love?

Meghan & John are not getting married until next year but we took advantage of the beautiful weather last Sunday to shoot some shots of them on UNC's campus. (Sorry Duke fans---but I'm a Carolina fanboy)

This lovely and happy couple have been dating ever since high school! She's the Dukie and he's the UNC student. Both are studying biology and plan on graduating in two more years.

We had a wonderful time together as I'm sure the photos will show.

Logos, logos, who's got the logo.

2010-09-28T23:23:00.002-04:00

If you're a repeat viewer of my website, you have probably noticed a few changes in the past couple of weeks. I'm referring to my logo, or rather, the evolution of my logo.

I decided that I wanted to "brand" myself with a logo. You know, kind of like "Pepsi" or "Apple". I figured that folks would rather have something simple and easy to remember when they woke up in the morning with "photographer" on their mind. And lets face it, I'm sure that all of you have probably thought at one time or another "hey...I need a really good photographer to shoot some photos of me eating breakfast today!". Ok, maybe that's stretching it a bit but I know many of you have had the thought; "I need a great wedding photographer" or portrait photographer or whatever.

So I set out to come up with a clean, easy to view and classy logo for my business.

My first go at designing my own logo was.....well....lets just say that I'm a much better photographer than I am a graphic artist. Here's the result.

It's not bad. My wife actually liked it, but a focus group of my peers unanimously shot it down.

So this was the next attempt.

Again, I think it's pretty cool but it doesn't work well as a watermark for my images or my website. So the logo failboat set sail again.

This was the next design. I rather liked it but my focus group did not.

Finally, I had a "real" graphic designer come up with something for me. Tony Hoffer, a wonderful photographer and graphic designer out of Philadelphia, designed the logo that you now see on my website.

This will become my new watermark on all my images that I post here and elsewhere.

I like it. My focus group likes it as well. It's clean, simply, and easy to remember.

So the next time you wake up and you've got "photographer" on your mind instead of "do I want oatmeal or pancakes for breakfast", all you need remember is "Colman". Now, do you think I should add "tastes great and less filling" after my name?

April & Tim

2010-09-21T16:56:00.001-04:00

April & Tim tied the knot on Saturday, September 18th at St. Michael the Archangel church in Cary.

Did you know that there are two reception halls at the church? I didn't and yep....I had my assistant, Gary, setting up my lights at the wrong reception prior to the event. I wasn't the only one. There were several people who came to April and Tim's reception who thought they were going to the other couples wedding. Fortunately everything turned out just fine and their wedding and reception went off without a hitch.

April and Tim are truly a fun loving couple as I'm sure the photos will show. I really enjoyed their wedding and I hope you enjoy the photos!

The boys checking the football scores

Touchdown!

Girls will be girls

Saymai & Robert

2010-09-08T20:16:00.002-04:00

What do you get when you combine a Christian wedding, a Laotian wedding and a precocious four year old photographer?

One very colorful and unforgettable day!

Saymai and Robert were joined in matrimony on Sunday, Sept. 5th. They held a Christian ceremony at the Chapel at Meredith College, followed by a Laotian ceremony at the NC State Alumni Center. This was my first Laotian ceremony but I really enjoyed all the various aspects of the event. It was fun, funny and very touching.

Saymai planned the entire event and believe me....that was a lot of work! She also wants to thank Mrs. Kai Thirakul, her husband, her parents and the Raleigh Lao community for all that they did.

I have to give a shout out to Wendy Dorman and her staff at the State Club for keeping things flowing along.

Also, a big thank you to my assistant on this event, Ed Quinene. Ed humps all my gear without complaint and keeps an eye on the details for me. Plus he gets some great shots!

Finally, a huge thank you to Saymai and Robert for selecting me to photograph this unique event. They are two of the most gentle and kind people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!

Enough talk. Time for photos. I hope you enjoy them!

First, the Christian ceremony

And now for the Laotian ceremony. Robert and his family have to ask "permission" to be let in to see the bride. Bringing a gift helps to open the way.

The "gatekeepers" agree to let Robert in and escort him to see the bride and her family.

Now I won't profess to knowing much about the ceremony but it involves a lot of speeches, offerings of food and drink and tying strings around the couples wrists to bind them together along with the well wishes of the observers.

Next, the couple had their first dance in their traditional Laotian dress

Then Saymai and Robert changed into western clothing for the rest of the reception but danced several traditional Laotian dances...

...which got the assembled crowd on their feet!

Remember that four year old I mentioned? This little guy was outshooting me all night!

So I had to pull out my "big guns camera" to show him I meant business!

Finally after a long night it was time to say goodbye.

Saymai and Robert make their exit thru a sea of bubbles!

Crissy & Noah

2010-09-06T22:44:00.006-04:00

Ok, first the basics. Crissy and Noah exchanged vows on Saturday, Sept. 4th at Sisters Garden of Eating in North Raleigh.

Now, let me preface the following by saying that this is one couple that knows the meaning of the word "PARTY!!" Their celebration had all the makings of:

A: Romance
B. Good times
C. A lovely family
D. Celebration!

Secondly, the fact that I am posting photos of a wedding that happened two days prior to Labor day, and I had another wedding the following day, tells you that I took the meaning of "Labor day" to heart. I spend most of Monday editing photos and I'm still working on them. No rest for the weary!

Before we get to the photos, a few words of thanks. First, my man Marc at Sisters Garden of Eating. www.sisterscatering.com made the whole evening go off without a hitch. Marc is every photographers dream catering director....he knows how to make things happen smoothly, efficiently and always has bubbles on demand! That and the food was fantastic as always!

I always enjoy working with the Reverend Su Windsong Leone. www.ladysindsong.com. We've had the pleasure of working together on past weddings and Su is easy going and professional to the core. Plus she has a great smile!

I also had a chance to work with a DJ that I had not met prior to this wedding. Ryan Pflumm www.islandsound.net was a real delight. He not only kept things happening, he has an easy going manner and is a pro thru and thru. Plus, he has a routine to the song "That's Amore" by Dean Martin that is a must for any wedding party!

Finally, I have to give a shout out to my assistant, Gary Kurtz, for helping me keep things real and for shooting some excellent shots with my back-up cameras. It's a good thing I only bring four cameras to a wedding, otherwise I think Gary would be overwhelmed with Canon goodness!

Ok, enough with the words. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. I am, however, still having problems with my graphic logo. My logo and Lightroom (my editing software) just don't get along. Someday I'll figure out how to marry the two so they live in harmony.

But a word of caution....there are a lot of photos. This was a wedding where the story just unfolded in front of me and I always find it difficult to select just a few pics. But if you think these are too many pics, just wait until the next blog when I'll share a multi-cultural American-Laotian wedding!

The venue

Crissy getting her makeup and hair done at Samuel-Cole salon and just having a good time.

The girls got ready at the Crabtree Marriott. A couple of shots of Crissy's beautiful gown and shoes.

Crissy's maid of honor and other bridesmaids touching up makeup and doing what girls do best.

Riding the trolly from the hotel to the venue.

With a little "bubbly" to help celebrate!

Beautiful cake!

Final touch ups....

...and mom helping out.

The grooms mother looking on.

Noah and his guys chilling before the wedding.

Crissy and her dad make their entrance.

One proud groom!

The good Rev. Su and the happy couple.

Some "tilt-shift" lens goodness for you photo geeks.

Joyfull moments!

My competition

Happy parents.

The vows are over.

Some formal silliness!

...the guys.

...can get silly too!

The grand entrance.

Followed by the first dance.

...and the first toast.

...and the father/daughter dance.

...and the mother/son dance.

....but if you want to see dancing, Crissy and her girls can really rock!!

... Noah's no slouch either...........ok, well maybe this isn't the best shot.

....so lets move onto the "cutting of the cake" shots.

...umm, maybe we should jump to the "garter toss.

Or not.

Our intrepid DJ, Ryan, keeps things moving along with "Amore".

Remember I mentioned the "bubbles?"

Finally, to wrap things up, a couple of my favorite shots.

I hope you enjoyed these! Stay tuned for the next wedding where I get outshined by a three-year old!

Kendria & Darren

2010-08-11T20:23:00.003-04:00

It's not everyday that a lucky guy like Darren marries a former Miss America contestant. And it's not everyday that I'm lucky enough to photograph their wedding! But that's exactly what happened on August 7.

Kendria represented the great state of Pennsylvania in the Miss America competition in 2008. She is also an accomplished concert pianist. Darren is a lucky fellow!

The bride and groom prepared for the wedding at the Crabtree Hilton. They then had an intimate ceremony at the North Raleigh Shrine club.

I hope you enjoy just a few of the hundreds of photos I snapped!

They indeed made a "perfect pair"

Darren and his guys

Kendria getting her makeup applied.

The girls and Kendria's mom

Some last minute adjustments

One beautiful bride!!

I literally had 10 minutes to shoot all these photos as things were running a bit behind schedule. But I think we managed to get some nice shots!

Proud parents

Three of the cutest girls ever!

This group was a lot of fun! Despite the heat everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Yeah, if I had just married a former Miss America contestant, I'd be smug too.

Congratulations toast

Father and daughter dance

The bride and grooms first dance

Getting ready for the bouquet toss

A quiet moment as things wind down

Italy. The trip of a lifetime

2010-07-28T22:51:00.005-04:00

My wife and I, along with her step brother and his wife, went on a trip of a lifetime! We spent 16 days in Italy at the beginning of June. For us, this trip had many meanings. My wife's grandmother was Italian and we always said that one day we would visit there. There were other, more personal meanings involved with this trip that I won't get into however I will say that this trip would not have been possible if not for my mother-in-law and my wife's late step father. Thank you! You will never know how much this trip meant to all of us!

The four of us are also "food junkies" so we dined our way across Italy like there was no tomorrow! We started in Venice, then visited the Cinque Terre region, Florence, Siena, Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri and Rome. To put it mildly....."WOW!!"

I hope you enjoy just a few of the over 700 photos I shot while there. Soon I will post all of the photos up on my website client gallery if you would like to see all of them.

Ciao!

Venice

The Cinque Terre area. The beautiful town of Riomaggiore

The view from our apartment

Some lovely Aussies we met

Best. Food. Ever.

Lots of steps helps to work off the calories

Florence

Dining in Siena

more "food porn"

A little alley below our hotel

The view from our hotel in Siena

Sorrento. Mt Vesuvius in the distance

The view from the top of Capri

But getting to the top is half the fun!

Leaving Capri

Pompeii

Rome and the coliseum

The Roman forum

Touring the Vatican

Yep, we're tourist!

Kelley & Alex

2010-07-17T17:13:00.007-04:00

The Barn at Valhalla in Chapel Hill was the setting for Kelley and Alexander's wedding. The day was beautiful but it was also a typical July day in North Carolina which means heat...and lots of it.

Kelley is not only a beautiful bride, but quite an accomplished cook. She baked all the cakes that you see except for the grooms cake.

I hope you enjoy their photos as much as I enjoyed their wedding.

Alex had a couple of lovely "grooms maids"

Kelley wore her mother's wedding gown.

Kelley's brother on the banjo

All the guests threw "rocks with wishes" into the pond

The grooms cake

Kelley baked all the rest

Lots of great speeches were given

The first dance

Time for the parents to get down!!

Everyone was enjoying the music

I don't think I've ever seen two guys going after the garter with such gusto before!

To the victor goes the spoils!

A quiet moment as the day winds down

Julie and Aisander

2010-07-01T20:30:00.007-04:00

Julie and Aisander's wedding is one of those events that I will remember for three things.

1. They are a very lovely couple.
2. Did I mention what a wonderful couple they are?
3. Heat and Humidity. With a capital "H".

Their marriage took place on June 26th at the Eno River Unitarian Fellowship. While most of the event took place indoors, we did manage to squeeze in a few outdoor shots just to break things up. But the Heat and Humidity (notice the capitol "H" !!) quickly drove us back inside.

Still, try as it might, the Heat & Humidity could not put a damper on their special day. Enjoy!

Stephanie & Carlo

2010-06-26T11:30:00.004-04:00

Stephanie and Carlo were married on June 18th at St. Michaels Church in Cary. Stephanie is one of those brides that every photographer loves. She's fun, laid back and a joy to work with. I also fell in love with her family and Carlo's family as well. Carlo is a man of few words but a true gentleman.

I hope you enjoy the photos I captured on their special day.

Cassandra & Greg

2010-06-20T14:31:00.002-04:00

A nasty thunderstorm didn't stop Cassandra & Greg from exchanging their vows on May 22 at Living Waters Church in Durham.
This lovely couple showed that even mother nature can't put a damper on their high spirits!

Shawna and Timour

2010-06-16T14:58:00.003-04:00

Shawna and Timour were married at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. What more can I ask for than a beautiful bride and beautiful venue!

Enjoy!

Andrea & Kelvin

2010-04-29T20:34:00.009-04:00

Andrea & Kelvin exchanged vows on Saturday, April 24 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Raleigh. While the weather was a bit on the damp side, the spirits inside could not have been brighter!

Following are a few of my favorites from their wedding. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did creating them!

Andrea chose not to have any "getting ready" shots made so I started shooting photos of Kelvin and his groomsmen right off the bat.

Kelvins best man decided to give him a quick shoe shine before the ceremony!

Andrea was a stunning bride!

Since Andrea and Kelvin followed the old tradition of "jumping the broom", I thought it appropriate to shoot the ring shots in the boom!

Kelvin got a bit emotional during the "mother and son" dance. I admit I got a bit teary myself watching the two of them.

Finally, after a long evening, our newlyweds relax ala " Barack and Michelle Obama" style!

But I like my version of this famous pose better!

Sean and Darcy

2010-04-19T22:29:00.005-04:00

Sean and Darcy were married on Saturday, April 17 at The Sutherland in Wake Forest. The venue was beautiful, the weather was perfect and the couple, their guests and family were the greatest!

Sean and Darcy chose a "breakfast" theme for their reception. This was the first time I've ever seen omelets made for the 80 some guests!

So while Sean and Darcy enjoy their honeymoon, I hope you will enjoy just a few of the many photos I shot.

Jamilla & Brian

2010-03-25T19:49:00.009-04:00

Jamilla and Brian were married on Saturday, March 20th. This date was not only special to them but to me as well as my wife and I celebrated our 28th anniversary on the same day!

The wedding was held at 1705 Prime, a beautiful venue in north Raleigh. The only "bump" in the road was when Brian's parents got lost trying to find the location. When you're not from Raleigh, the streets can be confusing. This resulted in the wedding being delayed for nearly an hour. However, after they finally arrived, things went quite well, thanks to the staff at 1705 Prime.

First, a few of the detail shots.

Jamilla keeping an eye on things outside the venue

Brian and his best man attending to the last minute details.

Brian and friend waiting on his parents

Jamilla in a moment of reflection

Brian in a quiet moment by himself

and nervously pacing the hall

Jamilla getting ready

Brians parents finally make it. Kevin, the manager at 1705 Prime helping pin the bouquet.

Finally, its time to get this wedding going!

Having some fun during the formal photos

The Reception

The best man giving his speech.

Jamilla and Brian's first dance.

Followed by the rest of the party!

A private moment inside the wine cooler.

The end of a wonderful day for a wonderful couple.

How to chose a wedding photographer

2010-03-04T09:58:00.009-05:00

I have to thank fellow photographer Jared DiMartine for this article. He wrote a very nice piece that I hope will help many brides who are looking for the "right" photographer for her wedding.

I've added a link to his blog and website at the end of this column.

How to Choose your Wedding Photographer
Posted by 32countiesphoto on March 2, 2010

At this point in both my professional and personal lives, I’m surrounded by weddings. Both my shooting partner and myself are recently married, a lot of my friends and co-workers are in various stages of getting married, and of course, I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of couples select me to photograph their days. One thing I’ve come to notice with all of this going on around me, is that most couples are really at a loss on how to select their photographer, and what criteria are actually important. Today I’m going to discuss the top 5 most important criteria a couple should look for when selecting a photographer.

5. Competence -Lets get this out of the way first. One would think that if someone were advertising himself or herself as a wedding photographer that they must have the basics of photography down. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Without harping on this too much, I’ve seen first hand just how easy it is to be tricked into selecting a photographer who’s only concern is cashing your check. Fortunately, it’s VERY easy to eliminate the people who do wedding photography only for the paycheck, and find a photographer who cares as much about your wedding as you do. Any photographer worth their salt should be able to breeze through the following:
- What gear do you use, and how often do you update it? - Photographers always have been, and always will be, equipment junkies at heart. We LOVE getting new gear, updating our equipment and adding new toys to our stable of tools. It’s fun. Anyone who just brushes this question off is either hiding something, or uninterested in what they are doing. A camera might be a tool, but it’s not as bland as a hammer. Ask my wife; she’ll confirm that I’m like a little kid at Christmas every time UPS shows up at our house…
- Aside from Wedding Photography, how else are you invested into photography? - Wedding photographers weren’t born as wedding photographers. We all started with a love of photography, and a passion for capturing our visions with a camera. Photography is an art, and a good wedding photographer will still follow personal interests and will be feeding their photographic urge in other ways than just photographing weddings. This could be anything from submitting work to fine art galleries to teaching college classes part time or traveling and shooting serene landscapes around the world. But there WILL be some other outlet. If not, then you’re talking to someone who is not personally invested into what they are doing. You’re personally invested in your wedding, right? Why would you expect less from the people you choose to be involved?
- Let me see more than one complete wedding. - This could be in the form of physical wedding albums, online albums, or proof sheets, but it’s important that you see the finished work, from start to finish. Anyone can get one or two shots right, especially at a wedding, where everyone looks great and the environment and surroundings are staged for beauty and emotion. However, if you are able to evaluate the photographer from start to finish, you will get a great impression of what they are capable of. Remember, what they are showing you is what they want you to see - It’s their best work.

4. Professionalism - Who are you dealing with here? Is your photographer a professional? Are they on time? Are they prepared? Are they dressed appropriately? Are they in control of the situations you expect them to be in control of? If you’re not satisfied with the answers to all of these questions - move on. Your photographer’s actions and demeanor throughout all of your contact leading up to your selection should give you a crystal clear idea of who they are and how they conduct their business. If they can’t handle responding to your emails in a timely manner, or show up to your meeting on time, how can you trust them to capture everything on your wedding day? This is a business, and being competent with a camera is only half the battle.

3. Fulfilling your needs - Every day, I see a huge disconnect between couples and photographers in this area… It should be obvious - no couple has ever needed this service before this point in their lives, so how could they possibly know what they need? In my opinion, it falls on the photographer to be able to clearly explain every single aspect of how the photography aspect of a wedding should work, and tailor their services to meet the specific needs and desires of the couple. Before selecting a photographer, the couple should understand how everything will work, from the contract to the wedding day to the selection and delivery of the printed albums and photographs. I have seen so many instances of couples that have signed contracts that are almost the exact opposite of what they actually want out of their photography, and of course, frustration and unhappiness ensues. It’s very important for the photographer to both explain and provide examples for any choice that the couple needs to decide on, and it’s very important for a couple to not sign a contract until they are satisfied with the answers.

2. Style - This is an easy one. Do you like the photographs your photographer takes? A photographer cannot change their style. It’s an extension of their personality. It’s a part of them. If you give 100 photographers an assignment, you’ll get 100 different results. While it’s always a great idea to give your photographers some examples of photographs you like and styles that interest you, if the photographers previous work doesn’t match up with what you like, you won’t get photographs you like. It’s that simple. I always ask for my clients to send me some photographs that resonate with them, and it gives me a good idea of whether or not I can meet their expectations.

1. Personality -I saved this for number 1, because I believe it’s very important and very under emphasized. Your photographer’s personality and his or her ability to fit in and interact with you and your guests will have a HUGE impact on the photos. You need to be able to relax and be comfortable around your photographer. Simply put - How can you expect your photographer to capture the emotion and energy of your wedding if every interaction you have with them is awkward, out of place, confusing or frustrating? The personality of your photographer will be present of every single aspect of your wedding photography, and the last thing any couple needs while planning their wedding is an additional point of stress. Find a photographer who makes things easier and fun for you.

Hopefully this clears up some things for a lot of you looking for your wedding photographer, and even provides some insight for wedding photographers who are trying to do things to better provide for their clients…

http://32countiesphoto.myfotojournal.com/2010/mar/02/how-choose-your-wedding-photographer/

New client section

2010-01-12T11:27:00.002-05:00

If you're a long time visitor to my site, you'll notice a new addition on my home page....a new client section. I decided to add this new feature to make it easier for my clients to view their photos. I've never been totally happy with the design of my old "client log in" section because of the fact that it took too long for people to be able to view their images.

This new section will allow clients to not only view their images, but to order prints directly from this site if they wish. As always, all my prints are totally retouched prior to printing to insure that the prints are the best they can be.

I'll be adding more client galleries in the coming months as well as offering some of my "fine art" work for your viewing pleasure.

Stay tuned!

Ben & Jennifer

2010-01-03T12:25:00.004-05:00

Ben and Jennifer were married December 30 at the Edenton Street United Methodist church in Raleigh. The reception was held at the NC State University Alumni club.

Ben is not only a new husband, but a good friend and co-worker of mine. I was honored to photograph their nuptials.

The lovely cake was provided by Lisa Guadagnini of Tier Bella in Cary. www.tierbella.com

I hope you enjoy a few of the many photos from their special day!

Some "behind the scenes" photos

2009-12-09T21:08:00.005-05:00

Since the wedding season is winding down ( I do still have one more to shoot at the end of December) I thought I'd post up some recent photos from my "other life".

I'm currently working on a television series about the history of North Carolina. That's all I can say for the moment, however I can say that I've shot some really nice HD video for this program. Here are some "behind the scenes" shots of history coming alive.

Enjoy!

One cold morning on Ocracoke Island. Camera jib in action.

The boat is actually a prop made by Roland Valentine of Valentine designs here in Raleigh. Roland is a great set builder/prop maker and a heck of a fisherman!

Even though it's a prop, it's still heavy.

I shot this photo of the Elizabeth II early one morning a few weeks ago. I've done a bit of photoshop work to it to make it appear more "magical'.

Me filming the EII under sail

Hoisting a smaller HD camera up high

Earlier in the year. Me on top of Grandfather mountain

Doing a "dolly shot" requires some work.

Gayathri and Brian

2009-11-29T19:52:00.004-05:00

Gayathri and Brian were married on Sunday, November the 28th at The Barn at Valhalla in Chapel Hill. This was my first Hindu wedding and I was very honored to photograph their wedding.

They had a pretty short ceremony by Hindu standards, but it was quite colorful and filled with symbolic meaning. After the wedding, the bride and groom changed into western clothing for the reception.

I hope you enjoy just a few of the many photos that I snapped!

Brians dad gave a wonderful speech that had everyone laughing

2009-11-23T17:05:00.005-05:00

Professional Photographers of America.

If you take a look at my website at www.jimcolmanphotography.com you'll see a new logo added to the splash page. That's the PPA, or Professional Photographers of America logo. This may not mean much to any of you, but it means a lot to me.

Back in the early days, when I was just starting in photography, I was a junior member of PPA. I really didn't take advantage of all that membership offered. PPA seemed to be catering mainly to studio portrait photographers back then and I was a commercial photographer, working in a commercial studio. Today, PPA has grown and evolved so much over the years that it now offers a whole lot more to the working professional photographer than it ever did before.

Today, I'm proud to be a full fledged member of PPA and I'm looking forward to all that it offers. What this means for my clients, is that I'll have access to new techniques, information and workshops that PPA offers it's members.

After all, it's never too late to teach an old dog some new tricks!

Jen & Mike

2009-10-26T18:16:00.010-04:00

Jen & Mike were married on October 18th at Caffe Luna in downtown Raleigh. The challenge of shooting in a small, intimate setting was something I looked forward to. Caffe Luna is a beautiful venue and a terrific restaurant. My wife and I love their food!

Anyway, on with the photos. These are just a few from the series.

Kafi & Yun

2009-10-25T00:23:00.003-04:00

Kafi and Yun were married last Saturday, Oct. 17th. It was a beautiful day and I was able to shoot some wonderful photos!

Both Kafi and Yun were a delight to work with. Kafi is blessed with the smoothest skin I think I've ever seen! These are just a few of the many shots I was able to capture.

Enjoy!!

Leighanna and Chris

2009-10-08T00:03:00.003-04:00

Leighanna and Chris were married last Saturday, Oct. the 3rd. It was a lovely wedding and the weather cooperated by keeping the temps in the "tolerable" range.

I hope you enjoy a sampling of a few of the photos from their very special day.

The most moving wedding I've ever photographed!

2009-08-05T21:35:00.011-04:00

I was fortunate to be asked to photograph a small wedding a couple of weeks ago. Carmen and Donald are two of the most remarkable people I've ever met. Here is a brief photo story of their wedding. These are just a few of the many shots I captured but I had to share them.

Carmen and her three wonderful sons from a previous marriage

Emotional bride

Lovely bride

Typical decorations

Typical entrance

Bride looks at her husband

The husband. Donald suffers from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise know as Lou Gerhrig's disease. He's in the final stages of the disease.

Carmen's been looking after and taking care of Donald for several years

While Donald can't move any muscles, except for his eyes, I swear he smiled when he saw Carmen

Of course I'd smile too if I saw Carmen dancing like this for me!

Celebrating their first toast. Not your usual method to say the least. Donald's ventilator prevents him from taking anything by mouth.

Time for some family prayers and toasts

Carmen's oldest son gave the most moving speech I've ever heard.

I don't think there was a dry eye in the place, including me.

The communication between Carmen and Donald was very special and unique.

Donald's initials in strawberrys

The ring and bracelet that Carmen gave Donald embedded in the cake. Isn't this what wedding cake is for??

I was truly honored and blessed to have been a part of their ceremony.

What does "retouching prior to printing" mean?

2009-05-12T23:19:00.007-04:00

Some clients want to know what this means. Basically it's simply making your photos look the best they can prior to printing or album creation. Most photos don't need much work as the images that are presented to you have already been digitally edited or enhanced. However, each photo that is selected for inclusion in an album or print gets an extra "trip to the photoshop" before I consider it ready. Below are a few examples. Click on the photos to see them enlarged.

All of my print and album pricing includes retouching of every image at no extra charge.

One very, very big print!

2009-04-30T22:12:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite couples ordered the largest print I've ever had made. This beautiful canvas wrap measures a whopping 50" x 30"!! I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see it for the first time. Click on the photo to see it enlarged.

Wedding photography contest for one lucky couple!

2009-03-01T14:34:00.003-05:00

I wish I could take credit for thinking this up but the good folks in Cleveland beat me to it.

I want to organize a contest for one lucky couple to have their wedding photographed by eight or more of North Carolina's top wedding photographers. The idea is that the couple would take the money that they were planning on spending on a single photographer ($1000 minimum) and donate it to the American Cancer Society. Each photographer would donate his or her services to the couple.

Each photographer would spend approximately two hours covering a portion of the wedding day. Some photographers may also chose to shoot an engagement session or bridal session instead. One photographer (probably me) would spend the entire day with the couple just to insure that nothing was missed. Each photographer would process their work and send the high resolution photos to the Bride and Groom on a CD or DVD. The couple could use these images to have their own prints made or they could order prints directly from the individual photographer if they'd like.

The couple would be selected by writing a brief essay on why they should be considered for this.

I hope to get this idea launched in the near future with my fellow wedding photographers. Stay tuned!!

I love making clients happy!

2009-01-26T22:04:00.007-05:00

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned in my over 30 years in the media business, is to do whatever it takes to please your clients. Every now and then, in the course of my day to day work, I'll receive a letter or email thanking me for my efforts.

I received this particular letter after spending a couple of hours shooting pictures for a new client. I didn't really do anything out of the ordinary except to add a shot that wasn't on our "schedule". The client was so pleased that he wrote me this very nice letter along with his check for my services. I was grateful and thankful of his efforts that I decided to post a picture of his very nice letter. When I get this kind of feedback for the work I do, it makes my job seem so worthwhile.

I'd just like to give a big shout out and thank you to a wonderful client, Mr. David Washington. The pictures I produced were good pictures but I honestly didn't expect this kind of response!

Thank you David.

For those without 20-10 vision the letter reads:

"Dear Jim
Thank you for a job well done. I truly appreciate the skill you displayed in taking the photos for our organization. Your photography will enable Washington & Company to produce a superior marketing product. I was very pleased with the final product and you exceeded my expectation for this project.

Your excellent customer service and prompt response time made for a very easy and enjoyable experience. I am extremely glad that you were our photographer for this project. We could not have selected a better person for this job, thanks.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Washington
President"

Tips for choosing a wedding photographer

2008-10-26T20:29:00.002-04:00

I found this information on the BBB (Better Business Bureau) web site and thought it important enough to pass it along.

Tips on Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Among the saddest complaints Better Business Bureaus receive concern wedding photographers who do not deliver what was promised. The vast majority of professional photographers will indeed provide unforgettable images of your special day. But you need to do some research beforehand.
The BBB offers the following suggestions to prospective brides and grooms:

Ask for photographer recommendations from family, friends and co-workers.
Check with the BBB for reports on the photographers you are considering.
Schedule interviews with two or three to get a feel for the types of services they offer, the quality of their work and related fees.
Ask the photographer if he/she is the one who will be photographing your wedding. If so, that should be stated in the contract. If not, request to meet personally with the photographer who will be shooting your wedding and review photos from several events before making a decision.
The price should not be the only determining factor, but you should know what fees you will be charged for what services.
Does the photographer work with an assistant? If so, is that included in the fee?
Ask for references and talk to previous clients. A photographer who is reluctant to provide references is of questionable quality.
Is the photo package fixed or customized? How many photos are included and what about reprints, enlargements and albums?
What is the time frame for delivery of proofs and other products? Is there a Web site to view your images? Can you keep the proofs or negatives?
What type and how many cameras will be used? Is color and black-white photography included?
What is the payment schedule? Is a deposit required; if so, how much and by when?
What types of photographs can you expect – formal, informal or spur-of-the-moment?
Does the photographer know the policy of your church, synagogue or other institution; some have very specific rules regarding photography.
Obtain a written contract that details every service to be provided and the name of the photographer who will shoot your event; the location, date and time length of all events; the type of package; a list of guaranteed prices for enlargements and any additional charges, like taxes or travel fees. The contract should also specify what happens if your photographer doesn’t show up, as well as the cancellation/refund policy.

A few other points I would add is that be sure the photographer or studio you chose is fully insured against liability claims. I would also ask if the photographer includes a CD or DVD of images, in full resolution along with all printing rights, for you to own. Most photographers offer albums or books and of course prints, but not that many are willing to give the bride and groom the images from their wedding. While this is a subject of often heated debates among wedding photographers, a few of us feel that the images, and the rights to make your own reprints, from your special day belong to you.

Above all else, make sure that the photographer you hire to shoot your day is someone that you feel at ease with and trust to capture your event.

Tim & Kylene's wedding

2008-09-07T20:49:00.009-04:00

Wow! What a wonderful day and what a great couple!! Tim and Kylene were married just as the tail end of tropical storm Hanna washed through Raleigh. The sun came out, the heat (and humidity) returned, and Tim and Kylene had a beautiful day! I was fortunate to be able to capture it all with my camera. I've posted up a few of the more than 800 pictures I took. You'll be able to see about 300 or so of the best shots in a few days on my website. Just go to the "client log-in" section and use the password that Tim and Kylene gave you. If you don't have the password, you can see about 25 of the shots in my wedding gallery. I expect to have all the photos up for review in the client log in section around Sept. 16.

Tim and Kylene are on their honeymoon as I write this but I'm sure they'll be checking in here at some point. Congratulations to a wonderful couple and I hope their marriage turns out as beautiful as some of their pictures!!

One very, very long day

2008-08-06T11:03:00.002-04:00

I had a quick trip to NYC last Thursday to do a video shoot for one of our corporate clients. I love to travel and don't mind quick trips but this one left me dragging!

My day went like this:

Up at 4am and at the airport by 5am to catch a 6am flight. We arrive in NYC around 7:30 and grab a cab into the city. The $80 cab ride takes about an hour.

I'm traveling light....only a video camera, tripod, monitor, tapes and batteries. I've hired a local grip to supply the audio and light package. Still, I've got about 50lbs of gear to lug around.

We arrive in lower Manhatten and my day of shooting begins. We're shooting in an office building so I grab some exterior shots before moving inside. Our contact has provided us with an unused conference room to shoot our interviews. Naturally, the room is way too noisy due to the A/C so we begin our search for a quiet office to film in. We finally find one that will work and set up to shoot an interview with the main subject. Oh, I should mention that this is a marketing video. The company we're filming uses our clients products and loves them so we're simply shooting customer testimonials.

We finish shooting his interview and I proceed to shoot other footage to support the interview. This includes shots of people using the product and we shoot another quick interview with a co-worker.

Lunch time arrives and we head across the street to look for a place to eat. We stumble on a nice Italian place that, at first glance, looks like a small family place. Once inside, the hostess takes us downstairs where we're greeted by waiters in tuxedos and shown to a table. This place is obviously a bit larger, and more expensive, than we thought! The meal turns out to be wonderful and the bill reflects the quality. $135 for three people. Oh well, it's New York, what do you expect?

Back to work. I finish shooting all the B-roll footage that I can think of. By now, it's around 3:30. Our flight doesn't leave for home until 9:30. We decide to wander over to the World Trade center site and pay our respects. It's very moving to stand there and image all the horror that happened on 9/11.

We walk back and gather up our gear. We say our goodbyes to the customer and my grip. My client and I grab a taxi back to the airport to see if we can get an earlier flight.

At the airport, we find that there are no other flights so we settle in for a long, long wait. Around 7:00 we grab a bite to eat. Did I mention that restaurants are not cheap in NYC, especially in the airport? After eating, we make our way to our departure gate for our 9:30 flight only to be told that our flight is going to be delayed. By this time, I'm feeling pretty tired. I just want to get home. We settle in to wait and I try reading my book that I brought along, only to find myself nodding off.

Finally, around 10:45 our flight arrives and we board. I've never been able to sleep well on airplanes but I manage to nod off a bit on the 1.5 hour flight home.

On the ground in Raleigh finally and it's after midnight. By now, I've been awake for over 20 hours. Our luggage takes forever to arrive but it's finally on the conveyer. I drop my client off at his car back at my office and head for home. My head hits the pillow around 2:00 and by 2:02 I'm fast asleep.

All in all, it was a good day but damn! I'm glad I don't work like this all the time!!

2008-07-22T21:46:00.000-04:00

2008-07-22T21:44:00.005-04:00

Here are a couple of shots of Shirley Caesar from my shoot with her today. What a lovely and wonderful lady she is.

Catalog cover shoot tomorrow with gospel singer, Shirley Caesar

2008-07-21T19:53:00.002-04:00

I'm excited about a shoot I'll be doing tomorrow with gospel singer, Shirley Caesar. The shoot is for the cover of a woman's clothing line catalog, Tally Taylor. I first met Ms. Caesar nearly 27 years ago when I was a cameraman for the tv show, "PM Magazine". Shirley was an up and coming gospel singer back then. I'll post up some pictures after the shoot.

some of my favorite photography websites

2008-07-17T10:33:00.011-04:00

Since my blog is linked to my website, and my website is all about my photography, I figured that I'd post up some of my favorite photography related web sites. I hope you find these useful.

www.fredmiranda.com/forum

www.photography-on-the.net/forum

and just in case you found my blog but not my website

www.jcolmanphotography.com is my site. Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Finally, here's a link to my 9-5 job. I think we do a pretty good job of making "little movies"

www.horizonvp.com

2008-07-16T20:36:00.003-04:00

A blog!?? Me?? who'd have thought. Well here it is. Congratulations. You are the first to view my ramblings. You win a cookie.

Ok, so this wasn't too difficult to set up despite my nearly non-existent abilities concerning all things web related. Now the question is...what am I going to do with it? I'm open to suggestions. Feel free to leave me a comment or topic and I'll get the ball rolling, so to speak.