The most moving wedding I've ever photographed!

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?

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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!!