Monday, July 31, 2006

Assisting ~ Mitch Tobias

This was one of the longest days that I have had with assisting another photographer! San Fransico based photographer, Mitch Tobias had me help him with his photoshoot for California Cafe' resturant at the Park Meadows Mall. I picked up a car full of equipment on Friday for him and then met him at 5am on Monday at the resturant. I hauled in 3 huge lighting sets and loads of other misc. stuff! We finished up with all the interior shots around 6pm this evening! I helped with about 5 different room shots and pretty much watched him photograph the food shots. The staff at California Cafe was wonderful... they fed us gourmet meals that were really excellent and they were all very helpful. I had an excellent time... it's been a while since I have done any architecture photographs so it was both rewarding and fun to do!

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Wedding Video ~ Amelia & Michael

Since we were only booked for one video and no photography today we decided to pick up another wedding video. So as I was covering the wedding in Golden, Mike was covering the wedding in Arvada at The Christ The King Episcopal Church and the reception held at Terrace Gardens. The remarks I heard from him were that it was very touching...and that he hoped our wedding would be as wonderful as theirs! I guess we'll see... only 5 1/2 weeks until ours!

Wedding Video ~ Janet & Randy

I had the privlage of videotaping Janet & Randy's wedding today. They were married at The Foothills Chapel in Golden with a reception held at The Golden Hotel downtown. Smaller wedding, but with the same amount of fan fare! It was quite lovely. This was a last minute booking.. so I didn't get to meet the bride & groom until I arrived... they hired us just from our website and references. And luckily we still had the date open... we still get a lot of last minute video bookings... so it never hurts to call and see if we're still available!

Friday, July 28, 2006

Headshots ~ Oriet & Kelly





Kelly & Oriet are just starting out in the real estate business and needed some photos for their business cards and website, so they called me! Two lovely ladies and some excellent shots!

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Wedding ~ Mandi & Eric






















Wow! What a dynamic couple! Mandi & Eric were so much in love! And it really shows in their photos! We had a few challenges that day: 100+ degree weather, family members forgeting about photos after the ceremony, 28 member bridal party, the fountain at the park was off, and just running a little behind for the reception... but through it all Mandi & Eric had smiles on their faces! I think their day turned out beautifully! It was a reflection of their love and their strength... I enjoyed photographing them immensely! And I can't wait to see how the video Mike shot of them turned out as well! Photos should be online by the end of the week or middle of next week... login: miller password: wedding

Friday, July 14, 2006

Wedding Invitations ~ Brian & Dawn

Dawn & Brian's Wedding Invitations came in recently... I had them dropped shipped directly to them to save on time, but they sent an extra one to me with the bill... They turned out really cute! I'm excited to see how their wedding goes... only one month until their wedding and ours is the following weekend! I can't wait!

We have wedding photo packages that include engagement portrait sessions as well as photo invitations and/or photo thank you cards!
Or you can always purchase them as an add-on to your wedding package! Here are the benefits: 1.) It saves a lot of time to purchase your invitations through us because you don't have to go and search out an addtional person to fullfill that service. 2.) Because you can get the use of professional photos in your invitations... making them even more of a keepsake for guests! 3.) They are actually fairly inexpensive as far as invitations go ~ plus we have all different kinds, designer paper ones, quality photo paper ones.. and all of them include envelopes!

We even have announcements for high school seniors & babies! Another great addtion to your portrait session! Plus we carry ones without photos as well!

One Addtional Wedding Tip!

I almost forgot about this one... but it has been driving me crazy for the past few years. The trend with bridesmaids and brides is to spray on that sticky glitter body spray on to their skin to give themselves sort of a shimmer.... I highly, highly recommend that you do not do that because it gives off a reflection from the flash and lights that we use and in the photos appears like a strange skin disease! I will not spend hours retouching that out since it is something that could have been prevented. I know it looks cool in person, but to save your photos please refrain! Thanks!

Advice For Your Upcoming Wedding!

As the middle of our busy wedding season hits us... I am starting to reflect back on all the photos I've taken this year and the years before and I've thought of some great ideas to give you great photos and keep everyone happy and smiling! ~

1.) Smile, I want to take a photo too! The first biggest problem that I as a photographer run into when doing the formal portraits at a wedding is everyone else wanting to take their own photo with their cameras as I am taking them. Even though it is in the contract that I am the exclusive photographer, I don't have a problem letting others shoot photos of their own, I just ask that they wait until I am done taking mine... Often times when others are trying to take photos too it turns their direction away from me and we end up with everyone looking all over the place, just not at me, which makes a very unpleasant photograph. And if I have to ask them to please wait I look like the bad cranky photographer... It always seems better coming from the couple. And if you ask they'll listen. It also helps a lot if you educate your guests beforehand. This also saves time.

2.) Time Management. Speaking of guests with cameras. No one really likes taking the formals, and I really strive to keep it under a hour. You get a disk of all your photos so think about that every time we have to stop and let a family member take a picture between poses. This is time away from the reception and the fun photos that I love to take of just the two of you!

3.) H20 - A few weddings I've been to provided bottled water for the guests... I thought that was a wonderful idea... Especially for outdoor weddings. Or at the very least someone (ie maid of honor) should be standing by with water for the bride & groom, since they can't travel too far during the formals... Photos take a while and you can become parched and tired during the session... Again especially in the hot sun... I don't want anyone passing out on me!

4.) The Bride & Groom Session. Really it should just be the two of you and me. If we have an entourage of 10 people following us, it's kind of hard to make it romantic and intimate... Just so you know.

5.) Surprises! If someone is doing something special for the bride & groom I'd like to know about it beforehand. I'd hate to miss it because I was covering something else... And I can keep a secret... I promise!

6.) Show Off Your Dress. Your dress in the plastic bag that says "David's Bridal" etc. isn't that pretty.... Take it out of the bag before we arrive... Hang is somewhere nice like on a doorway, a mirror, or a bedpost... This way we can get some great up close details of it... This makes awesome background images in the albums I design.

7.) Dinner is Served! For any wedding package that is 6 hours and over we require that we are included in your guest count for food... With that being said it doesn't mean that we will be making 5 trips to the buffet line or that we need the expensive prime rib. It just means that we like to have a little nourishment to substain us through a long day. Try to reserve us a spot near the headtable and allow our service to be the same time as yours so that we can keep up with the events going on. This also doesn't mean we need to be right next to you, but close enough so that we can see what's going on at all times. For both video and photography our cameras never leave our sides. I have never seen anyone who likes photos of themselves chewing food... so if we take a break when you do, we will be ready to get up and go again as soon as the action starts happening again, and we'll be sure to capture any spontaneous moments as they happen as well.

8.) Feeling Good! You should feel GREAT and rested on the day of your wedding... I highly discourage bachelor and bachlorette parties the night before your wedding. Or heavy drinking the day of before the ceremony... While I know it's your wedding and I don't want to tell you what to do... it does make a huge difference on your well being on your special day! Imagine having a headache all day or feeling ill as you greet guest after guest and smile for photographs. Having a hangover, it can, and probably will show in your photographs and I won't be able to retouch that out later.

9.) Special Requests - I am always happy to fullfill any special shot requests at anytime, by any member of your family! Just let me know... as our packages state... the photos are unlimited for our contracted times. So no matter how wacky, weird, or how large the group... I'm there to serve you and make sure every possible moment is captured! Likewise, if I make a special request for a moment of your time to do a photograph please consider it... because even if it feels weird or takes up some extra time it may make the difference between your everyday wedding photos and ones that when people look at them they say wow!

10.) Take it All In! Last, but certainly not least enjoy your day... This may be your one and only opportunity in life to feel like a rock star! You may be wearing the most expensive gown you've ever worn, you've had your hair and make-up put on special... And everyone of your friends and family is there to celebrate with you! Enjoy it! Allow the day to just happen... Let everyone else pamper you! Carpe Diem! And don't worry your photos and video are going to be awesome!


Congrats again! And Mike and I are both looking forward to being a part of your special day!

~ Jamie

Little Theatre Culture Center ~ Photos & DVDs Are at The Schools!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the photos and dvds for all three Little Theatre Schools have been dropped off. Please stop in at your child's school to pick them up. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call us 303-432-2954
Also all photos are being displayed on our proofing website as well... Click on "To View Your Event" then login for each school... For Highlands Ranch- login: highlands password: dance For Ken Caryl - login: kencaryl password: dance and For The Main School - login: lakewood Password: dance. Unfortunately, the program my lab is using mixes all of the danceers out of order so you will have to search each photo for your dancer... I'm hoping they will fix that by next year's show.
Thanks again for having us! And See ya next year!

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Commercial Photos ~ The Bridal Library




Sunshine at The Bridal Library needed some photos of her store to update her website with... so today I went in and helped her out! She is such a fun loving person and very easy to work with! If you are planning a wedding you need to stop in and see her at her new store in Englewood on Broadway! She represents every kind of vendor you could possibly need! Including us! And she has a warm friendly environment to sit down and go through all the materials of those she represents! http://www.thebridallibrary.com

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Video ~ Speaker, Bill Jackson

Videotaped a speaker at a conference that was held at The Abundant Life Christian Center here in Arvada today. This is something we do from time to time when we are not booked for other engagements... it's easier to get us for one of these types of events during the week, but you never know there always may be an off chance we're not booked a weekend for a wedding.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Wedding ~ Cheryl & Matt


I was on my own this evening for wedding video coverage of Cheryl & Matt's wedding in Littleton at the Cenntenial Community Church. What a facility and what a loving couple! The sweetest thing I've seen at a wedding... as they were walking back down the aisle Matt lifted his bride up into his arms and carried her back down the aisle... it was very touching and made for a great moment to catch on film! I can't wait to see the finished product on this one!