A cool day

I had a very cool day I was trying to think of photographers to invite to our next convention. I decided to go for the best so I called Denis Reggie. If you are not familiar with him you will remember his famous photograph of JFK jr coming out of his wedding and kissing his wifes hand. It is arguably the most famous wedding photograph ever taken. Anyway he agreed to come and speak at our convention next July. If you are a photogrpher mark you're calendar now for the 14th of July 09. It should be cool.

Legends Online

I just dropped a new link on my favorites to the Legends Online page of the Photo District News website. There are galleries and interviews with some amazing photographers from Arnold Newman to
Denis Reggie and Steve McCurry. Please take a look at some of the people who have shaped the industry of photography over the past century.

Artefact Studio

I wanted to show you guys the new company we are using for our wedding albums. These albums are wonderful. Whether you are a potential wedding client or a photographer you should check these albums out, they are fantastic. Our goal with weddings as with all aspects of our photography is to offer great looking, classic and timeless products. Artefact Studio is the perfect compliment to my photographic style.

The Kodak Gallery Award

The Kodak Gallery Award has been called the Oscar of the photography industry. I have been honored to win this award 9 times. They are, to me, the pinnacle of achievement in our industry. I am thrilled that Barbara & Brooke both received Gallery Awards at our state convention. We submitted prints for print competition with photographers from all over the state, and our studio won 9 of the almost 40 awards that were given. I'll give you a brief recap, Barbara won a Gallery Award for her wedding album, 1st place for her wedding album in the general division and a distinguished print for her portrait in the general division. Brooke also won a Gallery Award for her wedding print, the best wedding candid, 1st place for her wedding image in the general division, a distinguished print in the illustrative category and the wedding album Brooke and I entered together won first place in the Salon division. I took first place in the electronic imaging category as well as first place for my wedding print in the salon division. Competing in print competition is something I have always enjoyed. It's a great way to hone your skills and without a doubt has made me a better photographer. Having your work critiqued, torn down and adored is humbling and satisfying all at the same time. It was a big week and I think the best part was the president of the APPA and my good friend Joel Schmidt gave me the distinguished service award. This is the biggest honor that we can receive for giving back to the photography industry in our state.

State Convention

I think I have just about recovered from our state convention. I think this was one of our best and not just because I was the convention chairman. I am now officially installed as President of the Arkansas Professional Photographers Association. Which basically means I will be doing a lot of work this year. At our awards banquet I had to give an incoming presidents message. Melissa leaned over to me right before time and and asked if I had prepared anything and I said I am working on it. When I got up there it was so easy to speak from my heart about photography as our profession. I am not sure of the total numbers but I think it is very safe to say there are more photographers in our association from Little Rock and Conway than any other part of the state. I believe part of the reason is the willingness to share ideas and the open doors of all of my photographer friends. I believe if you help elevate someone's photography even if they are your competition you are elevating the profession and art of photography to the benefit of everyone who calls photography there passion. Anyway I look forward to this coming year and hopefully bringing many new photographers into our association.

APPA State convention

It has been a crazy start to the summer. There are only a couple of days till our state convention. I am really excited but some old friends and some new friends coming in to town. It has been a lot of hard work, but it is going to be a great convention. I am sorry the posts have been so few and far between , but after the convention I will update you guys on some exciting shoots that I have had lately.

Commercial site

Check out our new commercial site. Over the last few years we have done more and more commercial jobs. Working with ad agencies in Indianapolis and Mississippi as well as here in AR. We have done jobs for Microplane, Savoya, The Capitol Hotel, Health X, Conway Regional, and many more. I love the challenge of a commercial shoot. If your business is in need of great commercial photography give us a call.

Sonshine

I recently spent a weekend with Brooke & Barbara photographing 400 ballerinas. For almost ten years, I have been photographing the Sonshine Dance Academy. After the first couple of years we decided to make this event a fundraiser for YoungLife. Giving the proceeds from this job to YL has been one of the most satisfying things we do. The school has tripled in size and so has our donation to YL. I hope in the future to find more events we can do as fundraisers. If you are a photographer, I encourage you to find a job or event that you might turn into a fundraiser for your favorite ministry or charity. Please check out the link to the younglife homepage. I am convinced it is one of the most important organizations in any community.

Common Question

If there is one question I here asked more than any other it is how often do I recommend people get there portraits made. We do not offer any special packages with portrait plans until your kids graduate. Although many of my photographer friends tell me how great they are. I think it is simple, when you look at your portraits and then you look at your children or family and they don't really resemble one another it is time. This is what I try to do. When the kids are young that will pretty often and as they grow older not as much. There are some milestones that I recomend like at least two to three times in there first year and again when they are two and three. Agian, if its been a while, right before what I like to call the awkward years 10 or 12 is a great time for a family portrait as it might be the last one you do for awhile. And if your family is growing up, the last ones graduating high school [don't forget the senior pics] that is a great time for a family portrait. That could be the last time your family is just your family without in-laws and grandkids. Anyway hope this helps some of your questions on when to call. Of course I would say if you are reading this blog then its a good time to make an appointment.

We're Back

Sorry it has been so long. It has been a crazy month and there is much to tell. The biggest news is Brooke is engaged which means we will be heading to Aspen CO. in October to shoot her wedding. Brooke has only been back with us since September and has been a great asset we are happy for her but will be very sad to see her move. Her fiance Warren is in Massachusets. Anyway that is the big news. We are about to wrap up school this week and get into the summer plans. I promise to get more posts online next month.