A special thanks to Kara and Mark for allowing me to share in their joy. I appreciate the kindness shown by both families who were absolutely wonderful. The day could not have gone better and their happiness shines through in all their images. Congratulations Kara and Mark!

Spring has sprung and isn't it grand? Not only is this my favorite time of year, I love macro work with flowers, bugs and raindrops. It is a relaxing hobby to compliment my work. I hope you enjoy these colors of the season.

Creating More Interesting Engagement Photos

Everyone interested in doing an engagement session should consider whether or not they want the typical, stand-by portraits that everyone does, or if they would prefer more dynamic and dramatic engagement pictures. There will always be a place for a traditional style of portrait but more and more I have requests from couples who do not want the same boring styles and uninteresting poses.

Its important that you express this to your photographer and to find a photographer that is willing to engage in a little bit of adventure. The most dynamic photos I have an opportunity to take involve a little planning and a lot of stepping out of a comfort zone. Instead of the local park or backyard, try climbing to the top of a hill or driving out of town and finding an open field. Instead of scheduling your appointment at 4:00 in the afternoon, try waiting till nearer to sunset. Instead of the comfortable sweater and jeans routine, try a fluttery dress or skinny jeans and a rocker tee.

Ultimately you want the engagement session portraits to express who you are as a couple. The pictures should capture your relationship but remember, those dynamic photos that you long to have, require a little creativity.

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So Starts the Wedding Season

Having spent the last couple of weeks answering emails, working on albums and attending bridal shows, it is that time of year for meeting with perspective brides and grooms. Christmas and Valentine's Day are the two best times of year for engagements so shortly after both, there is a mad rush of meetings. This is my favorite time of my year. So many of my friendships took roots during one of these meetings. I get excited to see what new relationships will form and bond over the next couple of months to a year, as many that I meet will become life long friends.

This year as every year, I approach my job as a ministry. I am here to not only take beautiful pictures, but I am here to direct and guide where my opinion is asked. I am honest to a fault but I have found that is exactly what my clients want and need. When others say, "that's not in my job description" then I say, "I know they are not a wedding photographer." My service extends beyond all bounds when there is something I can do to eliminate stress from the face of my bride or expedite the picture taking by corralling groomsmen. In many cases, I am the one face looking directly back at the bride as the trouble hits. Her eyes lock with mine in a helpless gaze so I wouldn't be human to not reach out a hand to help if I can.

In the end, it is this kind of camaraderie that bonds me with my families that I serve. Its also that same dedication to those eyes looking back to me to capture their wedding memories, that make me the photographer I am. It is a sincere joy that my work brings to my life. I am grateful to be working so much and I am grateful to the new families that will put their trust in me this year.

Wall Expressions

I love these wall expressions. Not only do that add a beautiful accent to your reception site, if applied to an antiqued board, you can then save it and use it in your home. Biblical verses, song lyrics and romantic sayings are all available on line and can easily be applied to most surfaces. This one makes a beautiful vocal point in place of a traditional alter.

"Just Married" Signs

There are wonderful new products on the market that add such an element of interest to your wedding photographs. I love these vinyl clings that can adhere to signs, banners or even a wall at your reception. A "Just Married" sign is traditional but nowadays there are many other choices that can easily be ordered online or even purchased at places like Hobby Lobby or Michaels. You can make them unique to you by even creating graphics from your favorite song. I love these new ideas.

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Photoplay Photography has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ in their category of Wedding Photography! The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds. Photoplay is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. The Wedding Wire extends gratitude and appreciation to all the newlyweds who participating in recognizing this year's winners. We extend a warm welcome and a hearty Congratulations to Photoplay Photography for their commitment to excellence and their extraordinary customer service.

Albums Going Green

Albums are a wonderful part of the work we do and I am always on the look out for new and interesting products. I am so excited about the new Couture Albums and their contemporary and green design.

These books utilize recycled materials and are really a work of art but best of all, they will donate to a charity that you choose when I order the album! Charities include the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, Oprah’s Leadership Academy Foundation, Room to Read, American Forests, Global Volunteers, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, or the National Wildlife Federation. Now that is just the way I work ...get something...give something!

Senior Portrait Time

Its that time of year again and we are in the process of scheduling and developing the concepts for our next batch of seniors. This is always a fun time of year because the seniors we shoot are adventurous and fearless and their excitement is contagious.

I get just as excited as they do when we finalize the details of their shoot. I ask each one to define themselves and to tell me in a three words how they would describe themselves. Those are the three key words we use to explore the ideas that will be the foundation of what and even where we will shoot. Its harder than you think. Last week I had a young lady tell me her three words...spunky, spontaneous and unpredictable. And there's the challenge. Each student that comes to me wants their senior portraits to be unique, to showcase their personalities and to capture who they are right now. Its my goal to capture the very best of who they are and to mark a time in their lives that is one of the very best. And each year I am always so happy to meet and to get to know so many wonderful young people.

Engagement Sessions- What Defines You

The engagement session is such an important element in developing trust and rapport with your wedding photographer. It is also exciting for us because under the right circumstances, it is an opportunity to relax and have fun and get to know more about our bride and groom

before the wedding day.

What determines then the right circumstances. That is where the couple plays such an important part. The right circumstance is different for every couple because we all have different levels of comfort. While one couple may want to roll in the waves together on a public beach, another couple may not feel all together comfortable showing too much PDA.

The engagement session has evolved in the past decade. In the past and for some it remains a portrait session with smiling faces cheesing at the camera lens and all the elements of traditional photography applied.

Nowadays however the engagement session has taken on a whole new meaning for the contemporary couple. I have had some odd requests but
I find those are the ones that ultimately capture the very essence of the two people I am shooting and more importantly the relationship they share.

To begin, choose a theme or location that says something about you as a couple. Many couples met because of shared interests or an Alma mater. That is a good place to start. Explore what you enjoy doing together. Make it fun and uniquely you. Is there a special place that you share? It could be the place he proposed or your first date. Maybe there is a carnival in town, or the Panthers are playing a home game. Maybe you've just noticed how beautiful the sun sets on the water as you passover Lake Norman. Note the time and then call me to schedule your shoot.

Call ahead to see if there are any restrictions or permits that we will have to acquire. If you don't feel comfortable making contact with the location then I would be happy to arrange the details.

Make certain you will feel comfortable enough at the location
to be yourself. Everything sounds good in theory but is it workable for you? Maybe you saw some shots of a friend taken at the same location but you know you can't do exactly what you saw in those images that made you love them. You know if you are shy and you don't like people watching you. You know if your fiance is reserved and wouldn't like to be the center of attention in a public place. So don't inflict that stress on yourself. Find a place that is more private and better suited to you.

Lastly, choose clothing that is appropriate to the location but with a touch of your own creativity. Most times we can modify ideas to accommodate what you have on so don't let that limit you. Determine what inspires you first, find a perfect location and then we can work out the wardrobe later. Sometimes as woman we start with the clothes and the shoes first.

But whatever you choose, make it an idea that reflects who you are as a couple and offers chances for us to go out together to have some fun. While we are laughing, there will be so many opportunities for me to capture your relationship. I'll just be along for the ride!

The Freedom From Shot Lists

Everyone from the bride and groom to the wedding coordinator wants your wedding to go off without a hitch. Because I play such an important role in the use of your time on your wedding day, I recognize that it is part my responsibility to make the photography at least flow smoothly.

Often times we will ask for a shot list if we feel that it will help us in the end to facilitate some very tricky maneuvering. And there are many weddings where a shot list is completely necessary because of divorce or family dynamics. My personal preference is to have a shot list for the formal portraits. Every family is different and some family members are no longer with us, therefore the standard shot list of family groups and sub-groups is necessary to coordinate the formal portraits in a respectful and timely manner.

You also want to inform your photographer of important traditions you may be paying homage to, special objects of affection that you may have with you that day or special relationships that you want to respect.

If you are hiring your photographer to tell the story of your day as it unfolds however, the photographer must be free to capture anything that draws their attention or spurs their emotion because the humanness of those moments are the ones you will cherish the most. It is after all the shared human experience that we are capturing.

Some couples just want a photographer on their wedding day to document the day but its my desire to not only document your day but your experience. When looking at photographers make sure you hire one whose photos excite your emotions and make you feel but also a photographer that moves you. You are not only hiring a person with a specific skill set or talent but also a person in which you must be able to bond. Trust is of utmost importance so you must have a rapport to build on. You should feel at ease in their presence and enjoy them as much as they enjoy you.

In the end, any portrait artist can paint a portrait and any person with a camera can release a shutter. Look for the artist who can capture emotion in the portrait and the photographer who can engage you in such a way that you are certain that you can work with. Then allow them to gain freedom for their art through trust and respect. You will be surprised at what the freedom of creativity can produce.

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See More in the Bride's Book Magazine

We are always so excited to be featured in the Bride's Book Magazine. The magazine is a wonderful resource with alot of information and inspiration.

New Packaging Materials

I am so excited that our new packaging materials will be arriving soon! In an ever going effort to remain current and to provide my clients with quality products, the new packaging is beautiful. Branding and designing has been an education and a test of patience but the end result will be so worth it!

Behind The Lens...

For most of us picture taking is a point and shoot exercise in getting our kids to smile or the dog to sit still while we try to put a Santa hat on his head. And for the most part that's me too when I am not working although my children may beg to differ.

When I have been in trusted however to capture a family's memories, illuminate the smile of a beautiful bride, catch the enthusiasm of a graduating Senior or the innocence and sweetness of a newborn...that is not a commitment I take lightly. So there is an intensity and focus that transports me when I am working. Not only can shooting a portrait session be a lot of fun but it can be freeing as you explore your creativity.

However, I often create shot lists or an idea bank prior to the shoot just so I can be free to concentrate on the science behind it all. There are so many considerations going through a photographer's mind while our subjects smile and pose. There are numbers and charts and graphs and joggers and cars running into our frames. Sometimes it seems near impossible to get the shot we want with the right light, a natural pose and interesting details.

The trick to it all is the interaction...as clients no longer are mere studies of subjects in light but become friends and of a sort family... that you involve and engage. It really is one of the best parts of photography for me...

Assuring Your Photographer Understands Your Style

Photography is subjective. The concept alone conjures different ideas for different people. To make sure you're on the
same page with your photographer, I suggest looking through current
magazines and photography books with your photographer. Sitting
down together and discussing style is sometimes not enough. If you
want to make certain that you have related your wishes to your photographer and that he or she has a clear understanding of your
wedding day photography, this is a wonderful exercise. I keep on
hand in my office not only contemporary magazines and photography
books but also ones that are decades old. Although dresses and decor become outdated, I find that a classic look and elegant styling never go out of fassion. There is a reason
we love those classic images. What better way to find a common
ground between the classic and the contemporary.

Project Wedding

TRASH THE DRESS....SERIOUSLY?

It was an idea that had its roots in Europe and took some parts of the US by storm a few years ago. I rarely come across a bride in my own practice that would wantonly destroy her wedding gown but for that select few, we can TRASH IT!

To trash it means just that...rip it, tear it, burn it, get it dirty... roll in the mud, wade in the creek, jump in the ocean or ride your horse across the fields. Whatever you do just don't be concerned about salvaging the dress.

TrashTheDress.com says its about the creation and not the destruction. I love that because most times the dress won't be used to pass down to our daughters like tradition supposed. This idea is not for the faint of heart and is best suited for that not so traditional bride that would prefer the stunningly, creative images rather than the dress hanging in the closet.

But if you do want to save your dress but still have the fun of creating some spectacular images, one of my brides had the best idea. She purchased two dresses...the one she wore on her wedding day and the one we trashed. Maybe taking advantage of the fact that its hard to eliminate the choices of gowns down to just one...so loving two may not be a such bad thing!

Premier Bride Magazine Feature

Premier Bride featuring Amber and Brandon Lowe

Congratulations to

a very loving couple!