So the world is supposed to be ending today? That's sad. I never found out who let the dogs out, the way to get to Sesame Street, why Dora doesn't just use Google maps, why we don't ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery", why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed, why "abbreviated" is such a long word, why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor yet dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons, why they sterilize the needle for lethal injections and why do you have to "put your two cents in" but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? Why did Joanie love Chachi? Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane? Does the alphabet song and twinkle twinkle little star have the same tune? Why did you just try to sing those two previous songs? And just what is Victoria's secret? You see, the world just has to keep going. I have too many questions......and do you really think I am this witty ???? because I actually stole this from a friend, who stole from a friend, who stole from a friend, who stole from a friend , who stole from a friend ....
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
How to Plan Your Wedding Photography - 4 Steps to Memorable Wedding Pictures
1) Select Your Photography Style
How do you envision your wedding photographs? Wedding
Photographers generally fall into three stylistic categories: traditional,
photojournalist, or a combination of both. Traditional photographers are
practiced in obtaining great portraits and posed shots. For more candid shots
that document the day's emotions and all the behind-the-scenes action, you may
lean towards the photojournalistic style of photography (a hot trend for
today's weddings). For brides who simply cannot decide, seek a wedding
photographer who can offer the perfect mix. (that’s us) J
2) Consider the Cost
This really is one area in which you should avoid cutting
corners, as your photographs will be one of the few keepsakes you can actually
take from your wedding. Expect to allocate at least $1000 to your wedding
photography budget (the bottom line in metro areas will be higher). If budget
is a concern, consider ordering the most basic package, but avoid hiring an
inexperienced photographer to save money.
3) Hire your Wedding Photographer
Do your research, and compile a list of potentials and
commence the "meet and greet." When meeting with potential
photographers, be sure to review his or her work and remember to consider the
importance of personality. Your photographer will capture some of the best
shots behind the scenes, so you must feel comfortable in working with this
person and inviting them backstage. Trust your instinct: if you find anything
disagreeable about working with this person, keep looking. And don't forget to
get everything in writing.
4) Plan the Wedding Pictures
Well before your wedding day, make sure you have considered
the must-have photography shots and their execution. You should discuss these
details with your photographer so that he or she will be familiar with the site
location, the VIPs of the wedding (attendants, parents etc.), and the best and
most un-obtrusive way to get these important shots.
Consider every aspect of your wedding day and how you would
like it captured. From the pre-ceremony preparation, to your walk down the
aisle, to your "I Dos," to your first dance and finally to your
departure, make sure to discuss the perfect shots for each special moment.
Throughout the planning process, be in the lookout out for images that catch
your eye, and consider bringing clips to your photographer. Browse this gallery
of creative wedding pictures for inspiration.
Now that you know the basics, this complete wedding
photography guide will walk you the rest of the way towards planning your
wedding day pictures.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
It's your turn! ~ Ask Me Any Photography Questions You Have
On any given week I am asked questions about photography. Rather related to general photography "How To" questions or questions on how to start or run a successful photography studio or about Project CIP (something very special to me)
Here is your chance to ask me any photography related question you may have.
For the next week, until July 19th I will take and answer your questions.
All questions and answers will be posted here on the blog for others to read and learn from (no names will be used) so, don't be shy! Ask away!The one who submits the best question will receive a gift certificate towards a portrait session with Crystal Image Photography and I personally will spend an hour with them showing them just what it is I do and answering any other questions.
So, if you're an inspiring photographer or a newbie here is your chance!
Send your questions to: cv@crystalimagephoto.com
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Photographers Be Nice.....To Each Other!
Photographers Let's be nice to each other~
Just a few weeks ago I saw a post from a young photographer just learning her way around a camera and how a professional photographer had basically put her down and criticized her.
Now, this young photographer fired back! Stating how she was not a pro...just a beginner and didnt need a pro telling her she was not good....it was her customers who she looked to for approval.
I commented on her post, giving her encouragement, agreeing with her.
As I drove home that afternoon I began to think more about it.
All professional photographers had to start somewhere! Did we not? We all started out as beginners. I'm sure we all as beginners had other professionals looking at our work and judging it. Shoot, even pros judge other pros and put each other down! Why?
My thoughts on that - other photographers do not pay my bills or your bills nor do they define us. We each have our own style and way of doing things.
It is our customers that we should seek approval and satisfaction from. They are the ones who spend their hard earned money on our photography.....Why? Because THEY like what it is we do!
Becoming a better photographer requires times, practice and learning new things.....The things your customers want....the type of photography they want and will buy. Not what another photographers say is right or wrong.
This is exactly why I do not belong to professional photography groups, clubs, or otherwise. Oh, I have in the past. But each time, I find the same thing....a room full of arrogant photographers (now there is always a few who are not) seeking to come across as they are more skilled than the next.
No matter what it is we do or the type of job or service one preforms there is always room for improvement, so help one another and stop putting each other down because you may not like their style of photography.
Life's about helping one another! Pass it on! And, remember we all started out as beginners!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Two Important Wedding Photography Questions We're Rarely Asked
As wedding photographers, it's no surprise that we meet with
a lot of brides. And their mothers. So it goes without saying that we have
become professionals at answering questions about wedding photography as well
just about everything else that has to do with weddings.
I guess it's precisely because we answer so many questions
that we've become aware of the questions that aren't being asked. And the ones
that should be.
I think the first question stems more from my personal
conviction than from the hearts of brides. But if they knew ins and outs of
wedding photography, my bet is that more brides would be asking this question,
"what is your backup strategy and how do you protect my files against data
loss and corruption?" Or, more simply stated, "what do you do to make
sure you don't lose our pictures?!"
From my brief research, i've picked up that approximately 7%
of hard drives crash in their first year, and by the end of the second year,
that number climbs closer to 20%. Yikes! That means that if your wedding
pictures are being saved on a drive that's at least two years old, then there's
a one in five chance that that drive will crash. That's comforting.
While this article is not a primer on digital backup and
media protection, I do hope that it encourages more brides to simply ask the
question. For what it's worth, we maintain copies of every wedding, including
one offsite in the event our studio burns down, until our product has been
delivered and archived online.
The second obvious question that's rarely asked is,
"how many weddings have you been the lead shooter for?" Well, I’ve
been the lead for just about all the weddings we do. But, this is a question you
may want to ask if you’re looking at bigger studios with several photographers.
In these days of
website templates, it's rather easy for photographers to come by some great
photos and fancy websites which really make them appear established. I
encourage brides to ask for links to view complete wedding galleries from
recent weddings as this will give them a good idea of what they might expect to
receive. Anyone can come up with a few good shots for their website. But it's
much more difficult to come by a complete and impressive gallery.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Crystal Image Photography is WeddingWire Rated 2012
WeddingWire is excited to announce that Crystal Image Photography is WeddingWire Rated for 2012 for Wedding Photography.
WeddingWire Rated is the annual ratings program that recognizes wedding
professionals across the country for their commitment to service and is the
most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples, as they start their
search for local wedding businesses. The ratings program is based on hundreds
of thousands of recent newlywed reviews of over 200,000 wedding professionals
in the US and Canada, across 20 different service categories.
"We are very pleased to announce
WeddingWire Rated 2012, recognizing Crystal Image
Photography for their commitment to exemplary service in wedding photography said
Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire, Inc. “They have shown dedication to
their craft and service, helping engaged couples understand what to expect from
their business through reviews on the nation’s leading wedding review site.”
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wedding Photography Prices Guide: How to Set Your Photography Budget
Learn how to set a realistic photography budget with this guide to
wedding photography prices and rates.
The Going Rate for Professional Photography
When determining your wedding photography budget, keep in
mind that you get what you pay for.(read my other post on Why Choose A Pro) You should expect to spend at least $1000
on having a professional wedding photographer document your wedding (not
including the actual prints and other extras). Rates, of course, will vary
depending on skill level, experience and geographic region (metro areas are
usually considerably higher). The size of your wedding can also affect the
photography cost, as additional people may increase the amount of time that the
photographer must spend at your event.
Comparing Photographer Rates
Most wedding photographers will give general pricing
information over the phone or on their websites, so you can use an initial
online search or phone call as your first step towards finding a photographer
that suits your budget. In comparing photography costs, remember that different
photographers offer different packages - so initial rates can be misleading.
Some rates only include the photographer's time, while prints and albums are
extra. Other photography packages may include proofs, a set number of prints
and an album. Determine what services and options you want first, then compare
photographers' rates for providing those specific options to determine which
professional works within your wedding photography budget.
Once You Have Chosen a Photographer: Photography Contract Points
When reviewing your contract with a potential photographer,
make sure that it is specifically clear in what it covers. Consider these
questions:
• Do you
need to make a deposit?
• What is
the cancellation policy? Will you get anything back?
• Is any
travel time considered an extra or included in the bill?
• Are you
entitled to final prints only, or can you obtain all of the proofs?
• Do you have all the printing rights to print any photos you get on CD/DVD?
Kids With Type 1 Diabetes: I'm Giving Portrait Sessions Away!
Class of 2013 Senior Portrait Giveaway
As many of you know my 13 year old daughter Casey was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes just 3 years ago.
Today, she is doing good and is acting just like any other teenage girl (Lord Help Me) :) But, each day she and her family are reminded that she has an illness that will never go away.
That illness, lead me to start Project CIP. A way to give parents portraits of their children that they may never get the chance to have due to having to pay for medical expenses.
Trust me, we are very thankful for medical insurance but, there is still a monthly expense that goes along with this and any other life long illness.
Though Project CIP is always open to any child with a life long illness this special portrait session is for ANY class of 2013 high school senior with Type 1 diabetes.
A senior year in high school comes with lots of expenses for any parent but a parent with a child with Type 1 and the medical expense that comes with it makes it even tougher!
From now until October 30, 2012 I will be giving any class of 2013 high school senior a totally free portrait session with all the images on CD ready for them to make any and as many prints needed.
If you, or someone you know has a high school senior who could benefit from this let them know!
Contact me at 434-610-8917 or 434-392-3550 or via email at cv@crystalimagephoto.com
Connect and contact via facebook too: www.facebook.com/cip4you
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The question that opened my photography studio
This is the question that drove me to opening my photography
studio in Downtown Farmville. All I heard for months prior to opening was, it
is to dangerous to start a business these days. The economy is bad. No one has
money to spend. The risk outweighs the reward. Don't do it!!! But what would I
do if I was never afraid? That is the only question I could think about. So I
took that chance, left a full time job of 17 years and now I get to live my
dream of taking professional photographs every day. Wedding photos, Senior
Portraits, Families, babies, and I am shooting it, and I could not be happier.
Crystal Image Photography started off very small but has
grown over the years. From photographing weddings right down the street to
across the country.
Granted it is not easy to start up a photography studio,
much less any other type of small business. Hours and hours of hard work are
put into making a dream a reality. No shortcuts, no early days! In order to
succeed in this market, you have to go further then anyone else is willing to
go. Photography is my dream; it is what this company is based on. That, and sharing the talent God blessed me with. Going after
what other people would not because they are too afraid to try.
Don’t be afraid to try whatever it is you dream of. You
never know just how far you can go until you TRY!
www.crystalimagephoto.comwww.crystalimagephoto.com
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Rock The Prom Dress Session!
Rock The Prom Dress Session!
When the prom is over
don’t just toss that dress in the back of the closet. It’s time to do a Rock
the Prom Dress Session!
It’s also a great way to
get another chance to wear your prom dress that you spent so much time and
money on!
You’ll rock that prom dress all over! From
urban to country sittings we’ll show you and your dress off in a fun and unique
way.
Alley ways, streets,
parks, riverfronts, to wide open fields to choices are endless!
No need to have any make
up or hair styles. This is all about you and a nontraditional way of showing
off your prom dress!
Your session includes:
1 hour photo session
2 to 3 locations
Online gallery
All images on CD with
printing rights
1-8x10 print
$185.00
Rock the prom dress session will be held the Month of May
Only!
Call or email today to get on our schedule to Rock YOUR Prom
Dress!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)