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January 30, 2006
Funny Funny Funny!!!!!!!
Ok after much debating on whether to post this or not, I have decided that I would. I crack up every time I see it. Be sure that you watch this guy's eyes. I can feel his humiliation, the poor guy!!!!!
Ok, I can't get the link to work. It will come to a page that says it does not exist, then click refresh and it should pop up for you :)
Posted by inhisgrace at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)
Garrett & Hengamey's Engagement Session
Before Christmas, I had the oportunity to photograph Garrett and Hengamey who will be married in June. It was really cold and they were great sports about it, especially since much of the session was in the shade where it was even colder.
I have been to Annapolis many times and I have to say, that it is one of the beautiful places. There is just so much charm in downtown Annapolis. I was loving all the nooks and crannies :) I never really know how a session goes until I get home and this was no exception, but I have to say, I was thrilled when I got home and saw some of the stuff that I got. I personally sat through the whole slideshow myself and could feel the tenderness Garrett has for his Bride. You have your self quite a catch Hengamey :)
I can't wait to photograph your wedding in June :)
Posted by inhisgrace at 04:48 PM | Comments (0)
Reprints from online galleries
I thought I should post something on this. I am trying to figure out how to put this on the actual online gallery when you order. I should have a meeting with my web designer this week and have that in place, but in case not and for now, reprint orders can take up to 6 weeks to receive.
I know that seems like a long time and I wish I could promise them sooner, but I find that I have to spin many pots at one time , between processing weddings, engaement and portraits, add to that albums and then meetings with clients, not to mention meeting the needs of my familyand my time is short. I do have a office assitant who takes care of my paper work but still have a hard time entrusting the images that I take to anyone other than myself.
Usually it is less than 6 weeks, but I would rather be early than late :)
Posted by inhisgrace at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)
New Years Weddings
This was the first year I have ever done New Years weddings and was blessed to have one on New Years Eve and one on New Years Day and both in Philly.
It was great being part of 2 celebrations at once
Jenn and Herb were married on New Years Eve. I had gotten to know them a bit because in the Fall I was able to have an e session with them. They truly are fun people :)
It was a long day because They had a full Catholic Mass on a Saturday and the latest they would have a wedding was 2pm, the reception was at 7 pm so that gave a lot of down time, and so we were off to the Art Museum in Philly, which I had never been to before. I recognized it immediately from the Rocky movies.
I must say, it was quite amusing watching people stand at the top of the stairs and jump, LOL! I thought about shooting some of them, but thought that would not be the nicest thing. It was a fun place to photograph and were were even allowed to get a few shots inside :)
Herb and Jenn rung in the New Year with Style and I thoroughly enjoyed bringing in the New Year with them :)
New Years Day was equally wonderful. David and Mia had totally different personalities then Herb and Jen so the results were completely different, but equally as wonderful. I had been talking with Mia since November 2004, so it was a pleasure to be a part of their day :)
Posted by inhisgrace at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2006
New Publications and stuff :)
I have to say it is an awesome thing to to have the opportunity to be recognized, other than customer satisfaction, that ranks up there pretty high for me. It is always good to get recognized for something that I LOVE to do :) I hope this does not come across as bragging. I am still a little overwhelmed and truly thankful. I just wanted to share in my joy and celebration of blessings of my business.
Here is the latest buzz. Some of this is old news, but this is the first chance I have had to tell you all about it :)
I placed 4th in the Food and Drink catagory and 5th in the Details catagory in the Fall WPJA competition
I it very humbling to be ranked with the top photographers around the world!!!
The December issue of the Philly Knot Magazine featured my 1st Real Wedding which told Adam and Amy's story.
In January I Marlin and Nichole were featured as a Real Couple in The MD/DC/VA issue of the Knot. I think I mentioned them before when I found out about it. Such a wonderful couple!!!!
The Bridal Extravaganza was this past January 15th. I did a lot of of the promo stuff for them which was soooo much fun. Anyway as part of the promo, the local magazine featured my work on the cover of their I Do magazine.
I am very excited about this, and looking forward to what the future holds :)
Posted by inhisgrace at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
SwiftKick on "How to Choose a Band
HOW TO CHOOSE A BAND FOR YOUR WEDDING
By Thom Blasberg of Swiftkick www.swiftkickband.com
There are many variables to consider when choosing a band for your wedding day.
A great wedding band can provide an additional level of energy and
entertainment over disc jockeys, in addition to providing some basic MC
services on top of their live performance. Here are a few important
considerations when looking for a band for your big day:
AVAILABILITY
First and foremost, make sure the band you are interested in is available on
your big day. Regardless of how well-suited they are for your event, if
they're already booked, they won't be able to perform for you!
MUSIC STYLE
In addition to the music style you and your fiance would like, you will probably
want to consider a music style that will also appeal to the wide age-range of
family and friends who will be present at the reception. A band which is
versatile enough to play music from different decades/genres is generally a
much better bet than a band which only specializes in one style of music from 1
specific time period. Also, would you like a lot of faster, upbeat music? How
much slow dancing would you like during the night? You should review the
setlist of the band you are considering to get a feel for the type of songs
which will be played. A professional wedding band should allow you to specify
which songs from their setlist you would like them to definitly play....and
those you definitly do NOT want them to play. Also, don't be afraid to ask the
band if they would be willing to learn one of your special songs if they do not
currently have it on their setlist....just don't ask them at the last minute!
A few weeks or months notice is very much appreciated by any band.
ROOM SIZE
Again, room size may influence the type of band and/or volume level you are
willing to have. A large band will most likely sound louder in a very small
reception hall, so keep that in mind when choosing your room / facility. Also,
you may want to ask the band how they go about controlling their sound volume.
VOLUME LEVELS
Somewhat hand-in-hand with music style is the volume level of the band. A small
jazz trio is going to perform at a lower volume level than a 5-piece rock/cover
band....particularly if they also have a 3+ piece horn section on top of it
all. Also, a small jazz trio may be great for soft dinner music, but may not
be as effective as a larger band in energizing the dance floor later in the
evening when people are in a festive dancing mood. A good compromise may be
to go with a band which can offer you soft background music during dinner, and
then has the ability to pick up the pace as the night goes on and people start
wanting to dance and start "feeling" the music!
STAGE SIZE
Although most bands do not own their own stages, many wedding reception
facilities DO. Therefore, you may want to give thought to if you would like
the band to be on a raised stage above the dance floor for a more dramatic and
visible effect....or if you would be just as happy with the band on the ground
and level with the dance floor. Check with your reception facility to verify
what your options are for the band, and if there is any additional charge for
them to set up a stage for your band. To give you an idea of recommended stage
sizes, our band (www.SwiftkickBand.com) is a 5-member cover band and we
generally need a minimum stage size of approximately 12' x 16' , or 8' x 20'
(which is more "stretched out" length-wise if you don't have the depth for the
12' x 16' stage). Many of these stages are stored and assembled by the
facility using 4' square sections.
BUDGET
Many people with budgets in a $500-$1,500 range will opt to go with a DJ. You
may find new and/or inexperienced bands willing to play in this price-range,
but it is not recommended. You only have one chance to get your wedding day
right, and hiring an inexperienced band may end up causing you a lot of
additional stress, worry and potential embarrassment. Plan to spend $1,500 and
upwards for a wedding band. Factors which will influence band pricing
include, but are not limited to, the reputation of the band, distance the band
needs to travel, potential lodging requirements, the number of people in their
band, how long you want them to play for, the level of "production" in the
bands act, etc. Don't be surprised to see quality wedding bands quote in the
$2,000-$10,000 range based on these variables.
REFERENCES
Ideally, you should go see the band you are considering to hire at one of their
live performances. You may also want to get some references, particularly if
you are unable to see the band perform live prior to hiring them. Even if you
don't call the references, the fact that the band can even offer you references
is a good sign....and if the band has no references to offer you, then you need
to take extreme caution!
DRESS
Make sure you discuss the proper attire for the band. Some weddings are more
formal than others. Do you want the band to wear tuxes? Or would you prefer
more of a semi-formal look for the band, possibly allowing them to move around
on stage easier without working up a sweat? The choice is yours, but make sure
you communicate your preference to your band of choice.
CUTOFF TIMES FROM FACILITIES
Many wedding facilities have cut-off times for live music. Make sure that you
are aware of any such cut-off times, and let the band know as well. Some
facilities state that all music should end by midnight, so you will want to
plan accordingly.
CONTRACTS
A contract doesn't have to be complicated, but it would be in the best interest
of the bride and groom...as well as the band....to have many of the above
details in writing to make sure all parties are clear on the details of the
event. Also, be prepared to pay a deposit several months in advance to
officially secure the band for your wedding day. A band may have several
wedding parties inquiring about the same exact date, so a signed contract and a
deposit will give you peace of mind that the band will not book anything else
on your special day.
(italicize)
The above article was written by and provided courtesy of Swiftkick Band
(www.SwiftkickBand.com). Swiftkick is a popular Top-40 cover band based in the
VA/DC/MD area. The professional 5-member group performs songs from today, as
well as from the 90's, 80's, 70's and 60's. In addition to being featured in
the Washington Post and other DC metro area newspapers, Swiftkick has played
for and received great references from the U.S. Coast Guard, Marriott
Corporation, RE/MAX, Harley Davidson, Radio Shack, and others. The band
performs regularly at weddings, corporate events, outdoor concerts, and local
clubs.
Posted by inhisgrace at 08:55 PM | Comments (0)
Vendor Spot Lights
I get to work with a lot of really neat people. There are so many florists, bands, videographers and such that really have a ton to offer. I hope you will find the info useful :) Feel free to leave comments!
Posted by inhisgrace at 08:36 PM | Comments (0)
Watershed ( The music on my website)
I know it has been a while since I have written. I really do plan on making this an almost daily event.
I get alot of response on my website about the music. I was incredibly blessed with the fact that there was a group in our church who started a band. It was very cool that the members ranged from ages 16-25. Very neat guys!
The link on my wedding site at this time links to a page that says coming Feb 2005. Well, here it is a year later and still no site and that is because the band is no longer together. No bitterness or drama, just guys at different stages in life and moing on. I think 2 are married now and 2 are off to college and it was just not feasible for them to stay together as gifted as they are.
The church that they were birthed out of still offers there CD and I am sure could sell you a copy of the full CD to you if you are at all interested.
Here is their contact information
St Pauls United Methodist Church
phone (410)546-9750
mail@stpaulshebron.org
Be sure to tell them I sent you :) I think the CD's are $12 for 2 for $20.00
They truly are great guys and I am sad they are no longer together. I am so thankful they allowed me to use their wonderful music :)
Posted by inhisgrace at 08:04 PM | Comments (0)