aka: Matrix Photographer

I think it's funny that I am getting a nickname as "The Matrix Photographer" and when it's been said over 5 time's, I guess I'll take it on as a compliment as well. I received this name from using up to 3 cameras at a time at events and I switch to each camera for a different lens effect. Most are awed by this idea and the look of me with all my cameras, one on each shoulder and one around my neck. On many occasions guests come up to me and say "You're like a matrix photographer panning around and switching so smoothly..." while others say "You switch so fast, it's like each camera is mid-air—slow motion— like a matrix!"
Anyway, I actually think it's pretty cool that I'm finally developing my own style and way of photography. Although for me, I feel I am still finding my "style" as I go and sometimes I get worried of what my style is and what isn't. Do I stay the same at each wedding at this point? Or do I try something new, hence my business name? Or is my style the way it is now, in fact, Out of the Ordinary? Yet, I get requests of things I did at previous weddings. So I always wonder, at what point do I stop searching and just improve on my own style? One of these days I'll figure it all out.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Linder Wedding
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Stuck in the Middle with You by Stealers Wheel
CRAVING: to play not work!
NEEDED A MOMENT: late for the dentist and measurements in my head while at JoAnn Fabrics
BEST MOMENT: laughing with my sisters on the phone

In Memoriam: Peter Georgi

I just wanted to write a small note in memoriam for Peter Georgi, Nicole Georgi-Costello's father, who are friends of ours as well as a wedding I covered. Below is a photo of him walking Nicole down the isle and what Nicole wrote in her own words:
"As many Spiritual Teachers share, the One Truth we Know at some level within ourselves: Death is not the opposite of Life. Death is the opposite of Birth. Life is Eternal. Life has no opposite, and We are all Life. We are all Eternal. The forms come and go...
So the form is gone, and we must let go of the form; but as we let go we are still filled with his presence. We are filled with the Peace that he Is. We mourn the form we can no longer go and see, but we don't have to go far to visit him. He is everywhere Now. He is the sun on your face, the wind in your hair, and stars lighting your way Home in the dark. He is the grass under your feet, the wood of the trees, and the ocean waves over your toes. He is the song the birds sing. He is the innocence in the children laughing. He is this breath. He is this moment. Love is the bridge to him and my wish for everyone that knows him is to Know this as the Truth: Life is Eternal and so is he. "

If wished, send donations to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center, Glens Falls, NY

Our thoughts are with the Georgi family always.

~Jim & Holly

Project Update

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Linder Wedding. Kolta Wedding sent.
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Home by Michael Bublé
CRAVING: coffee
NEEDED A MOMENT: i have so much to do
BEST MOMENT: spending the day with my hubby

A wedding joke

I received this joke in an email recently, thought it was really funny & wanted to share.

Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement -- not even her parent's nasty divorce
Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother- of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress! Jennifer asked her to exchange it, but she refused. 'Absolutely not, I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it,' she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, 'Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day.'

A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, 'Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it. Her mother just smiled and replied, 'Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.'

If there were no outlets and exit signs

The world would be a much better place if exit signs and outlets were invisible to a camera.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Finishing Kolta Wedding
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Sugar Sugar by The Archies
CRAVING: food!
NEEDED A MOMENT: so hungry
BEST MOMENT: going out to dinner

New blemish smoothing

Very excited to get a new plug-in for Adobe Photoshop for blemish touch-ups. It will help with the photo processing and I can't wait to see how it goes for my work flow.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Kolta Wedding Photos
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: If I only had a brain by Harold Arlen and Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland of The Wizard of Oz
CRAVING: sleep
NEEDED A MOMENT: my order was wrong... again... and I never say anything about it because I don't want spit in my food but I'm just tired of it always happening to me. oh well, not the end of the world...
BEST MOMENT: watching more snow melt

Tip: Pausing for reception intros is not necessary

I personally like the action look, or maybe everyone decides to do a dance or cheer as they get introduced. Or pick up or twirl their partner. The pausing is ok for the days when you wanted those traditional photos or for grandma, but you don't need to stop for me. I think it can look silly for the guest watching as well, then there is this awkward moment of everyone waiting for the photographer when the photographer already got the shot. It's just strange, even more so for video... so no pause or stop necessary unless you want to do a fun pose for the camera. You're DJ may ask you to, but if you have me, just tell the DJ that the photographer doesn't want you to stop and they'll be ok with it and can even check with me if they'd like. Sometimes I interrupt during the line up to state it, but I don't like to speak over the DJ when they are trying to do their job. If you want to stop, that's ok too, but don't feel you need to do it on my behalf.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Kolta Wedding
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: I swear by John Micheal Montgomery
CRAVING: tuna sub
NEEDED A MOMENT: burying Chipper, RIP my love (had to wait until the ground unfroze)
BEST MOMENT: Sushi Thai is back and reopened in Glens Falls!

Most important day of your life but not the only day of your life

I always like reading the intro's of other wedding photography sites. I'm sorry but some are so cheesy, not real life, at times too salesman-like and rehearsed. If it hasn't been said a million times—at least a hundred. And if that works for you great, but not for me, my priorities are different. This world has taught me a very hard lesson, especially being in such a fantasy type business. The lesson is called: Reality. It always gets in the way of our life plans. Just like anything, material objects do not last forever, things like Hurricane Katrina could hit at any moment and you could lose everything. Which brings me to the point I'm making. Yes, I agree, it's one of the most important days of your life and yes, your photos will be passed on for generations and yes, I am honored to capture your day. But it's also not the only day of your life. You may go on to a honeymoon, have babies, buy a house... who knows where your path in life will lead you! It's exciting! So remember, I'm not here to put up fake salesmanship, I'm here to capture just one of the most important days of your life. I am there to capture that smile on your grandma as she gives you love advice; that proud face of your father as he lets his child go; those tears from your fiancé that don't happen that often; the silly dance moves of your brother; those are the moments.
In the end, I hope you enjoy your photos but what I hope for the most is that your love for each other outlasts any piece of paper, glossy or matte.

Bio-Oil, EZ Combs and DermaSeptic

I love passing along products that work because it's hard to find the ones that actually do.

My friend Mandy recommended Bio-Oil to me months ago and I finally remembered to get it. As simple as it is, it rocks! If you haven't tried it, you're missing out. I feel like a new person and I have very sensitive skin. It helps with scaring, wrinkles, even tone, during pregnancy stretchmarks, other stretchmarks, dry skin, sun-burn skin. It even says you can add it to your bath and lemme tell ya honey I wish I could shower in it, it's awesome. It's the new fountain oil of youth! lol... I got it thru amazon.com but it's also at Walgreens and I'm sure other places too. Their official website: www.bio-oil.com
I also tried those EZ combs. Somewhat expensive because of the S&H they charge but they work, even with my thin hair. Although like anything with my thin hair, I only have about 2 tries to get it right or I'm outta luck. They look better, more professional and are more comfy than butterfly clips. Very cheezy video clip on their website but here it is: www.ezcombshair.com
They even recommend them for weddings!

Also, if you are a cold sore sufferer like me, this product works. I've tried everything, just about every product out there and I feel like I can finally say I found something! From the reviews it looks like it doesn't work for the other things it advertises, but for cold sores and acne, it's doing very well. Dermaseptic Skin Healing Device.
MY CURRENT PROJECT: Ostrander Slideshow
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Ladies Night by Kool & The Gang
CRAVING: Water
NEEDED A MOMENT: BFF
BEST MOMENT: My skin finally feels good again

Uncle Bob

I am saddened by another passing of one of my mother's brothers. Uncle Bob. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those in my family and I wish I could be there with you.
The Derrick Newspaper posted this obituary:

Obituary - Robert V. Huffman

Robert V. Huffman, 81, of Huckleberry Ridge Road, Knox, a Korean war veteran, passed from this life to the next at noon Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at his home.

Born Jan. 16, 1928, in South Bethlehem, Armstrong County, he was the son of Dallas C. “Sawdust” Huffman Sr. and Essie Brocious Huffman.

He had been self-employed at Huffman Lumber.

He was an active member of the Church of the Nazarene in Clarion, where he had been a trustee and sang in the choir.

Mr. Huffman also was a member of the North American Hunting Club and the Handyman Club of America.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean war.

Bob loved to hunt, fish, play the steel guitar, collect trains and spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

On Sept. 3, 1977, he married the former Gladys Bessler, and she survives.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Huffman is survived by four stepchildren, Donna Carson of Seattle, Wash., DeAnna Moore and her husband, David, of Grove City, David Carson and his wife, Frances, of Oil City and Daniel Carson and his companion, Michael Mankenburg, of Glendale, Ariz.; six grandchildren, David Carson II and his wife, Stacey, DeAnna Laser and her husband, Matthew, Ember Kestner and her husband, Keith, and Annette Carson, Corey Carson and Eric Brinn and his wife, Gretchen; and nine great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by five sisters, Louella Beichner of Pine City, Shirley Texter of Knox, Pat Stitt and her husband, John, of Rimersburg, Charlotte Schreckengost of Putneyville and Linda Carol Brown of Six Points; one brother, James Wayne Huffman and his wife, Mary, of Clarion; two sisters-in-law, Nancy Huffman of Knox and Betty Huffman of Shippenville; a brother-in-law, Sam Riston of Greensburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Delores A. Riston, Geraldine Mills and infant Mona Lou Huffman; three brothers, William Huffman, Dallas Huffman Jr. and Ronald Huffman; four brothers-in-law, Paul Beichner, Duane Texter, Jim Mills and Carl Schreckengost; and two nephews, David Beichner and Michael Huffman.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the David C. McEntire Funeral Home Inc., 504 E. Penn St., Knox.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home with the Rev. Mark Smith, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Clarion, officiating.

Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens in Cranberry with full military honors accorded by Berlin-Bowser American Legion Post 720 of Knox.

Photo enhancement of the month 3/09

Check out my enhancement page for the feature fix of the month.
www.outoftheordinary.biz/enhancements.html

Coming soon: Definition of what candid photos mean to photographers vs. subjects.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Ostrander Slideshow and Album
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Rock & Roll by Eric Hutchinson
CRAVING: to finish processing
NEEDED A MOMENT: Reality vs. Fantasy
BEST MOMENT: ...

Wedding photography expenses

A friend photographer of mine posted some great info on wedding photography and cost. Check it out: www.danellamillerphotography.com/blog/?p=89

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Ostrander Wedding
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: For the love of money by The O'Jays
CRAVING: fresh air
NEEDED A MOMENT: sinus pain
BEST MOMENT: sinus pain going away

Policy change: Turn-around time

Effective immediately and added to all contracts, including existing current weddings and all future weddings:
"A photo release will be sent along with photos in approx. 12-14 weeks after event."

This is for all packages. The Violet package has the same turn-around time for the actual photos but the coffee table album takes approx. 3-4 mos. processing time once the selected photos are chosen by the bride/groom.

Thanks.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Ostrander Wedding. Siag Wedding complete and sent.
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Isn't it romantic by Ella Fitzgerald
CRAVING: to not get old
NEEDED A MOMENT: back pain and winter is still here
BEST MOMENT: more fishies!

February was a short month

It's amazing how 2 or 3 missing days in a month can really mess up deadlines! I'm not sure if February should even be considered a month. On the other hand I like that the month of March is here faster because that means SPRING is around the corner. Between that and my pet dying I feel so behind, just goes to show ya how life happens and you can never control time. Thus, a new policy update on turn-around time coming soon for all future weddings. Also, I will be adding to my enhancement web page, before & afters, for fun and to show how processing works visually for those wanting to see examples. I'm not sure at this time if it will be updated on a monthly basis or weekly but definitely on occasion.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Siag Slideshow and web updates
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Wonderboy by Tenacious D
CRAVING: no heartburn
NEEDED A MOMENT: everything and first day being alone today without my pet
BEST MOMENT: the sun shining in where I am sitting