Taking a step back . . .

It sure has been a challenging year so far and lots of decisions had to be made. For all my “fans” out there, I am still in business, but I have decided to take a step back on the amount of business I take on in order to focus more on other things like my family. With that said, I won’t be taking on as many weddings as I have in the past. However, in order to keep the business going in the meanwhile, I would still love to continue to take on smaller projects, such as Kids pictures (ages 1-2 and up), Senior Portraits and Family Pictures (and maybe even pets!). I hope you all understand. Please keep me in mind for any of your photographer needs. Any comments/questions, please let me know.

Don't let just ANYBODY photograph your wedding!

I saw & read this article via www.powerbrides.com and deem this appropriate and would like to share this with you.

It has become more common for friends or relatives to handle photography duties for a bride and groom, which because of costs is understandable, but while the outcome can often be successful, the trouble starts because too little thought is given to the process.
As a wedding photographer I pride myself on a number of characteristics, one of which is being prepared. Being prepared can cover a lot of ground: knowing the venue before getting there, anticipating moments before they happen and analyzing where to place your self to capture them, having meaningful contact with the couple leading to the wedding day, and equipment.
A friend of mine once said if you can remodel a bathroom, you can probably handle any room in the house, or even the whole house. That's because a bathroom requires work to the plumbing, wiring and whatever other cosmetic changes you have in mind. Good wedding photography requires you to work well with people: friendly, but assertive; good wedding photography requires you to handle candid moments; good wedding photography requires you to move quickly, but quietly; good wedding photography requires you to know something will happen before anyone else - including the participants - knows it will happen; good wedding photography requires you to handle all kinds of lighting situations as they change moment to moment; good wedding photography requires you to have a good plan to execute on the wedding day, but be willing to abandon it for two or three others because of a slew of factors beyond your control.
So what does this have to do with remodeled bathrooms? A good wedding photographer is that bathroom remodeler - the person who can move into different environments and craft something special room by room. Conversely, a lot of people can take good pictures in the stress-free environment of a makeshift studio or a park photographing friends whose schedule is flexible, but when moment after moment has to unfold without delay, it's a much bigger challenge.
I still haven't addressed the issue of equipment. Cousin Tim or the good friend who is given the monumental task of capturing the unrepeatable wedding day moments just might be able to pull it off in light of what I've already written - unless his camera body breaks. How many good friends doing wedding photography as a favour because they have an artistic eye have a second camera body, or a second flash, or a second - or third - lens? Or even a second camera card?
Another issue is how good the equipment is. You don't need the best hammer or the best drill to do a great job with that bathroom, but it has to be reliable. So does your camera equipment. If your goal is just to have someone at the wedding who can take a picture that let's you say, "yep, that's me, that's Andy; I recognize us; I've got my pictures", then feel free to pass on my advice. But, if you're after neat poses, well composed candid moments, and artistic compositions, then please consider my thoughts a little more carefully.
I've heard some people say they were delighted with the work Cousin Tim or the good friend did for them at their wedding, but I've heard far more complain through gnashed teeth at all the things that went wrong.
If you approach your wedding as the beginning of a lifelong relationship, the photography from it becomes perhaps the only thing you actually plan to keep forever. A car will be traded in after five or seven years; the first house you buy might be replaced in seven to 10 years with a bigger one. Out of all the stuff you buy for your wedding, it - other than maybe a video - is the only thing you have even a few days after the wedding - other than the cake you eat on your first anniversary.
Yes, wedding photography can be expensive, but when you hire the right person, you're buying an insurance policy that the memories from the most important day of your life will be as easy to access and as exciting to relive as picking up an album with all those glorious pictures.
Go to:  http://www.powerbrides.com/article.php?article_id=87

Update

It sure has been a crazy summer, but it's been fun. For the most part have been busy with weddings with July having 4 weddings and now things are slowing down with that as I only have 3 weddings to go (I will try to update my blogs of the weddings I photograph). I know this fall I will also have smaller photography projects such as Family portraits & Engagement Sessions (Now's the time to do it!! and great for holiday greeting cards!).

I'm also involved with a couple more charities. First is a walk for ALS http://web.alsa.org/goto/algoldman and our team page is here: http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/WisconsinWalk?team_id=182473&pg=team&fr_id=6467  We will be walking in memory of my Aunt Judy. And the other charity is for MDA which I've done their "lock up" for the past few years now. My site is here: https://www.joinmda.org/depere2010/alicialynnphoto  For either or both charities, please donate or help out if you can (& is also tax deductible!!). Every little bit helps

I also took ownership over organizer duties of the book club I am in (http://www.meetup.com/newwomensbookclub/). We have some fun books to read the next few months and fun activities as well-so looking forward to that.

And also looking to sell my darkroom equipment that I've obtained a few years ago & never used. I have yet to go through & list what I all have as well as take a picture of it all. So if anyone is interested, let me know-I bought it at $100 OBO!

And speaking of selling: Still have a wedding dress that I'm looking to help sell (I've posted about it in early blogs).This was also from David's Bridal. Style T8778 Strapless satin A-line, cuff neckline and pleated sash at waist. Sweep train. Available in White. Woman's Sizes 8. Beaded satin sash color pool. Also sold with Bra size 38 and the tool slip (underneath dress). She is looking to get $500 O.B.O

I think that is it for now. I will be in touch & again will try to blog more often.

Charles & Angela

Charles & Angela

June 19th, 2010

I actually met Charles 2 years ago as I photographed his sister Katie's wedding to Victor. Again, I don't always know my clients, but most are some sort of referral which is great for business. At any rate, it was nice to see some familiar faces again as well as to catch up with Katie & Victor.

The ceremony was held at Green Bay Community Church (same church as Katie's ceremony 2 years ago) which is a lovely church.  Pictures & the ceremony went well as Charles was over-joyed and waving to everyone (even me-lol). He even wanted to do some fun/goofy pictures in addition to the "nice/formal" ones and of course, I let him.

After the ceremony & formals, we then traveled to Jimmy Seas (the wedding party traveling by limo-bus) where I learned about Charles & Angela's meeting as far as when they got together/got engaged and also the story of Charles' success at Georgia Pacific (which Jimmy Seas overlooks over the river).

Then the reception was held at the Suamico Ale House  which was a new place that I have not photographed yet for a wedding (I have been there bowling with friends before, but not for a wedding). The whole wedding hall was rented out & filled with many family & friends that very much cared for the newly-weds. Overall, it was a lot of fun and fun for me to photograph the many kids. They also had the addition of having a photo-booth provided by the DJ's Music Caterers which I of course had to try out (see page 5 of their website under Charles & Angela's wedding PW: Phelps). And to keep the kids entertained, Charles & Angela included a candy table.

The night was finished off with the first dances & Grand March. I think the Dj's did a very well job of making sure people were entertained & dancing. For me, it looked liked everyone was having a great time & for Charles & Angela that the night never ended.

 

Tough Year

I think I have mentioned before that 2010 has been a roller-coaster for me dealing with different challenges. In particular was the loss of my Aunt Linda last month to cancer. To this day, I still saved the last E-mail conversation we had. Though a short one, I still find it a meaningful one as I let her know I was walking the Sole Burner for her. With that said, & I digress, I am planning to walk it again next year which is May 9, 2011 in her honor.  To this day, I regret not speaking/visiting her more often than just family get-togethers or events (but not beating myself up over it). I say this as I almost feel that I had more to say to her or any advice she could have given me along the way-to hold onto. I also say this as I feel how much more grateful for the family I do have and how lucky I am to have them.
In addition, I had also recently lost another Aunt of mine, my mom's sister Judy who lost her battle with ALS  I was so glad that I was able to communicate with her at my cousin's wedding back in May. I say "communicate" as she could not talk, but could write down what she wanted to say. Again I felt I had so much to tell her/talk about, but I also felt a loss of words. I did mention to her that we would have brought Ziva to the wedding reception, but would have been hard with her nap schedule so forth (& not sure how crabby she would/wouldn't have been). But she reminded me that Josh & I should be able to do things together that we love as well (aka date nights). So I felt that that alone was very meaningful. We had also talked about how my mom (& Auntie Lou) had been visiting her every week the past few months helping her out & keeping her company. Aunt Judy really enjoyed that & wished that there would be someone to help my mom out in her time of need. In a way, I took this as a hint and a promise to make sure my mom is taken care of as well as she took care of Aunt Judy in her time of need.
And as I left to say goodbye, she grasped me by the arm as if to embrace me in a hug. I will never forget

Joseph & Jessica

Joseph & Jessica

June 11, 2010

I actually got to know Joe & Jessica last year in August as I photographed Jessica's brother, James' wedding in which they were apart of. So in this wedding there were a lot of familiar faces and everyone was real easy to work & talk with.

The wedding ceremony took place at Pamperin Park at the gazebo. It had been raining earlier in the day and rather raining all week so with this said, there was some worry about the ceremony taking place outside/having to work around the rain. Though I believe I heard Joe say that they were going to have the ceremony outside regardless (rain or shine). At any rate, the rain had stopped before their ceremony with the sun peaking out at times and no worries were had. Overall, the ceremony went very well with a few added laughs. 

So after the ceremony we took the rest of the formals around the rest of the park. This is a park that I also tend to stop at many times with different wedding parties, so definitely a popular spot for pictures. I think, because I tend to come here often, I wanted to try to vary and be more creative with the pictures a bit rather than the same posed ones at the same spots (can get boring). A big attraction, rather an icon of Pamperin Park, is the bridge that crosses Duck Creek, and to not take pictures in, on & around the bridge is unavoidable, but still makes a great backdrop.

After formals we had a small break before heading to the Holiday Inn at Kelly Lake. 

I have not been here before and isn't a bad place for a reception. The only thing confusing for me as a photographer was the division in the bar area as far as half the people were for the wedding reception and the others were locals using the bar to wait to be seated in the restaurant area. And because I didn't want to be taking pictures of the locals who were not part of the wedding, I unfortunately tended to steer clear of the bar to avoid the confusion and to avoid having to ask every single person if they were in the wedding.

Other than that, the dinner was nice and meanwhile being entertained by stories & a sideshow of images of the wedding couple.  Then out of the kindness of Joe & Jessica's hearts, they decided in order for guests to get them to kiss (as opposed to clinking of their glasses), they had to donate money to a jar which would be donated to the National MS Society. 

I will say that there was definitely a lot of generous family & friends at this wedding reception and makes me wonder how much money was collected by the end of the night. No matter what, every little bit helps and I am very proud for what Joe & Jessica have done. 

And last but not least capturing the images of the first dances ended my night of photographing Joe & Jessica's wedding. Overall, it was a great time and great experience.

Joel & Jessica

Saturday, May 1, 2010
Joel & Jessica

Joel & Jessica's is the first wedding of my 2010 wedding season.  I know Joel & Jessica through my friends Jay & Carrie, who stood up in the wedding & are actually getting married summer of 2011. And actually, we all attended UW-Oshkosh which is also something we have in common. I don't always get to know my wedding clients (beforehand & what-not), but is fun when there is some sort of connection or referral from another wedding I photographed. I am very glad I got to know Joel & Jessica and was happy to photograph their wedding day for them.

The wedding all took place at Becket's in Oshkosh which is downtown at the City Center. Everything was set up in what used to be or rather is the old mall area (rater than the restaurant itself). I thought it looked lovely & was excited to have the sun shining through the skylights for perfect lighting conditions. 


After the ceremony & some family formals we traveled to South Park for additional pictures. The original plan was to go to Menominee Park, but due to the hatching of lake flies the week before, we had to resort to another option away from the lakeside. Aside from it being a windy day, I was glad that the sun was still shining & that the weather was warm (was about 60-70 degrees) that we were able to take additional photos. 


Once we returned back to Beckets, it was time for dinner which was a pasta buffet. I found the food to be delicious as well as different rather than broasted chicken & potatoes etc. And of course, instead of the usual clinking of the glasses to get the bride & groom to kiss, they announced that anyone sing a love song/song with the word love in it. This is always enjoyable to watch/listen to as well as the speeches & any stories family & friends have to tell.


And as soon as we knew it, the dance portion of the night was ready to start. This is something that is my favorite to photograph. I am able to capture more candid pictures of people-that is without them knowing I snapped their picture. And overall, it gets the bride & groom to ask after seeing their finished albums "Where was I when this was going on?" or "What was I doing/saying at that time?"  and "I don't remember you taking this picture of me". I love the overall reaction of my candid pictures and it creates a lot of fun for the bride & groom. 

Overall, I really enjoyed photographing Joel & Jessica's wedding day and can't wait to show them their final pictures.