Friends and Photography...

I know that alot of tips get posted from other photographers, but I'm going to touch base on something that doesn't get mentioned very often. That is friends and photography. This has become a little bit of a touchy issue for me, as I feel that alot of people who I thought were friends always ask me the same question:

"How much will you charge me for pictures?"

This has made me question not only my friendships with these people, but their ethics as well. I mean, how would they like it if a boss at work asked, "How about I only pay you a dollar an hour today, I mean, we're friends, right?" Won't happen right? Same with photography. This is our profession. This is how we pay our bills. To ask us for a discount is no different than an employer asking to pay their employee less.

Another question I get asked by friends:

"What are you doing Sunday? Can you come take our pictures?"

We have certain days off a week so that we can do things with our families, get caught up on work that we couldn't finish during the week, etc. No different than anyone else's family. My Sundays are usually spent with the kids doing things I couldn't do on Wednesday or Saturday because I was in the studio or at a wedding.

And probably the worst question to ask a friend who is a photographer:

"How much will you charge me to photograph my wedding?" Or worse yet,
"Can you shoot my wedding?" Meaning, at no charge?

Depending on how good a friendship we have, has it occurred to this type of person that we may enjoy being a guest at their wedding rather than working it? I had a friend who always said I was her best friend. When it came time for her to plan her wedding, I got a call from her. "I have an important question for you about my wedding." I thought I was going to be asked to be a bridesmaid. Nope. "How much will you charge me to take pictures at my wedding?" Enter the gut punch. So, how do you handle your friend who is a wedding photographer?

1. Don't expect that you will get a huge discount on your wedding pictures just because you are friends. We put the same amount of effort into our friends weddings that we do everyone else's. We spend the same amount of time editing photos and creating albums on for our friends as we do everyone else's. So why not pay us the same amount? Now if we offer, that's another story. But don't ask us about a discount.

2. Had it occurred that we might enjoy taking a wedding off and being a guest having fun along with all our other friends at your wedding?

3. If you're not sure, ask us. Ask if your wedding day is available and if we would rather be a guest or if we would rather be a photographer. Honestly, from my perspective, I would rather be a guest at the wedding of a good friend. After shooting 2 friends weddings, there is an odd strain that normally isn't there for me at other weddings for both me and the bride.

4. Keep in mind that if we are a friend at your wedding that we will more than likely still have our camera with us. So make sure that the photographer you do hire knows this and ask if there are any restrictions on our using our camera! This will cause unwanted tension for not only you, but for us as professionals also! I allow people to take pictures as long as they are not in my way. I do not allow professional cameras at weddings I shoot unless the bride is purchasing the rights to the images. This stipulation is in my contracts.

I'm sure the feedback I get from this posting won't be pretty and I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

Quote of the week!!!

A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into. ~Ansel Adams

Have you ever just flipped through an album just looking at the pictures? Have you ever been to a show or someone's home and just looked at the photographs on the walls? Next time take a moment and look into the image. Pause and see what is in it. You may notice something that even the photographer didn't see.

Dianna's Bridal Session...

I just got back from Dianna's bridal session! We went to the church where her ceremony will take place and down to the river for some fun shots on the water! I can't wait for you to see them! Gotta wait another 2 months though... you can hold out, right?

Aaron's Bridal session...

Yesterday we shot Aaron's bridal portraits at the Davis Bourne Inn in Independence. If you have never been there, stop by! Naturally I can't show you just yet, but they were great! She was willing to do anything I wanted her to do and we had such a fun time, even though we were dodging the rain! Check back after July 12 to see some of them!

Seaworld - Shamu Rocks Texas!!!

The "Shamu Rocks Texas" was a fun, lighthearted show that starts with a dance contest by showing the contestants on the large screen at the front of the theater. Set to hot country hits, Shamu and fellow orcas perform for the audience, assisted by their trainers. The show ends in a tribute to Texas and our service men and women. The patriotic theme was a must due to the 3 Air Force bases located in or near San Antonio and the large amount of military that is ever present at Seaworld. Below are some of our favorite images! This high five is my personal favorite!

Seaworld - Everything pics!!!

These are some of the images we took just wandering around the park. First set is of us at Dolphin Cove. The newest arrival to the cove is in the first image followed by me in the red tank top and Steph beside me getting ready to drop a fish into the dolphin's mouth. After that is the Anheuser Busch Stables where the Clydesdales are, followed by an image of Busch, probably the largest of the horses stabled in the barn. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Seaworld posts...

Here are some images from our trip to Seaworld over the last 2 days. There are more images I will be posting tomorrow (or should I say later today) that I just couldn't get to tonight. I have so many great images that I want to share with all of you that I decided to break them up into shows! Please feel free to post comments and let me know what you think! My favorite show was the "Shamu Rocks Texas!" show, which I will be posting tomorrow evening! It literally rocked! And we have some amazing images to prove it as well as some wildlife images (including me and Steph feeding a bottle nosed dolphin)! So check back in later in the next 2 days to view more of our trip to San Antonio! OH, this blog really doesn't do the images justice. I've noticed that they look a little grainier on here than they do straight off the card. So sorry if they don't look great!

Seaworld - Nighttime Sea Lion Show!!!

This fun show was a spoof of all the shows at Seaworld, performed by the otters, sea lions, the walrus, and their trainers. It was hillarious! The images are a little grainier and a little darker, but it was shot in the evening, and I couldn't bring myself to use the flash and disturb the performance!

Seaworld - Believe!!!

The Believe show was truly breathtaking! SeaWorld San Antonio holds four orcas: Kyuquot, Keet, Unna, and Tuar. I cried the moment the first orca jumped out of the water! It was really pathetic. I couldn't see them do anthing without my eyes welling up! The show was about following your dreams and believing in yourself. It really hit home for me, since I'm living my dream being a photographer! I couldn't have done it if I didn't believe in myself!























Okay, so you see this facing you in the stands...
now imagine this coming straight at you!

Seaworld - Rockin' Ski Party!!!

Now this one didn't float my boat as much as the animal shows did, but what man wouldn't love a live-action boat, water-jet and water-skiing stunt show especially when there are women dressed like this?

Seaworld - Viva!!!

These are my favorite images from the Viva! show. This incredible show features professional high divers, aerialists and synchronized swimmers performing with Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales. It was amazing!

Happy Father's Day!!!

I searched for some quotes that I felt summed up being a Father. Of course, I'm not one, but I thought these litte pearls of wisdom very true!

Father! - to God himself we cannot give a holier name. ~William Wordsworth

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father! ~Lydia M. Child, Philothea: A Romance, 1836

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~Author Unknown

There are three stages of a man's life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus. ~Author Unknown

A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again.~ Enid Bagnold

I hope all of you have a happy Father's Day! And remember, any man can be a father, but it takes a real man to be Dad - Angela Thompson

River Walk and Alamo...

This afternoon we visited the River Walk and the Alamo in San Antonio. It takes someone with a love of history to truly appreciate the spectacular places. First we went to the River Walk. Sitting below street level and surrounded by history, it was magnificent. Here are a few of my favorite images.

These 5 bronze bells represent the original 5 missions in San Antonio.





This bronze statue is Saint Anthony of Padua.




















This is the Alamo. Everytime someone told me about it, they said it was just a pile of stone. They were very mistaken. When you walk in through the doors, you can feel history seep into you. This place was truly haunting. If you paused, you could feel history around you.

Before I was told to put away my camera inside the Alamo (I was so entranced, I missed the sign saying no photography - oh come on!), I was able to snap this one picture through a small alcove inside the front door. Can you imagine a priest preparing for mass?

This beautiful lady was at the base of a megalith statue in front of the Alamo, commemorating the brave men who fought against Santa Anna for the freedom of those in Texas.

This little fellow is called a yellow crested night heron. According to the gentleman who told us his name, this bird usually comes out at night, so this was a very rare shot that we got. They make their homes in the cypress trees that grow all over the river walk. Below this image is one of their nests.

We've arrived!!!

After a long, and very aggravating trip, we finally made it to Texas! If I may make a suggestion, never travel by bus with small children! Unless you enjoy torturing yourself, then go for it. Steph did okay, she was wired the whole trip and finally crashed at 11pm last night. I didn't sleep till 4am. Try sleeping when all you can smell is the stench from the bathroom. Anyways, if you want to meet interesting people, and it's only you, or you and another person, this is the way to go. I met a lovely, young woman from Cameroon, Africa; a 57 year old mother of 6 who has been battling colon cancer for 4 years, on her way to Houston from Tennessee for her specialized chemo treatment; a young family finally leaving New Orleans after Katrina; a high school graduate on her way to see her brother in Waco before he leaves for Iraq; a gentleman on his way to the Philippines to pick up his new bride; and a young man, just home from Iraq, who was surprising his family. I'll be posting images during the next 2 weeks from our vacation, so keep checking back. Coming up... The Bush Presidential Library (woo hoo, not), Seaworld, Alamo, Riverwalk, and much more!
Stephanie looking out the window of the bus at the lake outside of Dallas.

Stormy & Zach's Wedding!!!

Today we shot the wedding of Stormy and Zach. This young, happy couple were so sweet and game for anything I wanted them to do! With family and friends in attendance, they shared their love for all to see! Here are a few of their wedding portraits!