Barb and I want to pass along our warmest wishes to everyone for a happy holiday and a healthy and happy new year.

Along with being busy with our client’s holiday cards and photographs, we didn’t get a chance to take our holiday card photo until everyone was home, so this year it will be a “New Year’s” card.  We received so many nice cards and notes for the holiday. It was great to hear from everyone! This past year just flew by.

Barb and I operate on different circadian rhythms - I’m an early bird and Barb’s a night-owl - which works well when you live and work with your spouse 24 hours a day.

We’ve been going full-bore since April 1st - mostly 7 days a week. While we have 2 weddings next weekend, we’re really going to try, as of tomorrow, to enjoy the holiday time with the kids and keep the computers to themselves.

I love the time between 5:30AM and 6:30AM when Kate’s getting ready for school, to drink a couple of cups of my favorite bean, surf the net, plan my day and think about future plans.

I like to look at photographs from all different sources for creative inspiration, check up on my favorite blogs, think about our next vacation and look for the latest and greatest applications which might make our business more efficient - as Barb would and has put it: “procrastination”.

So, this morning I was thinking about one of my favorite contemporary culture words - Mash-up and how that word describes so much of my personal and professional life. The word began as a description of a musical genre where the music of one song was added to an a capella from another song to make something entirely new and fresh. But mash-up is used much more widely now.

You know you’re getting a little older when you look in the mirror and realize that you’re looking more and more like your Dad (or Mom). I’m definitely a mash-up of their two personalities.

Artistically, I’m a mash-up of my photography education, inspiration from other image makers, my personal life experience, and the interaction with my subject. Something new and unexpected comes out and I sit back and think - “whoa, cool - where did that come from?”

So, if you want to have some fun with your own photographs and create a mash-up of your photographs, some animation and music, and create a fun video - check out Animoto.

No, it’s not a Florida wedding, but it’s nice to see, dream a little, and feel the warm air, balmy evenings, birds chirping, green lush trees - how quickly I forget the hot sweltering 93 degree Saturdays this past summer - it sure seemed like one of the hottest summers in a long time.

I remember begging for some cool Saturdays - maybe just some clouds. What was I thinking?

Sara and Ben were married at Heinz Chapel with a reception at Longue Vue Country Club where Rebecca and Jen treat their brides like royalty. While they can’t accommodate a huge wedding, I would highly recommend you’re taking a look at the club if you’re searching for a venue. The ballroom and living room are beautiful as are the grounds around the club.

Sara looked stunning in her Matthew Christopher gown from Anne Gregory. He’s become of the most popular bridal designers.

We’ve all met people who you just feel good to be around. They have a positive outlook on life and always have a smile for you - I think that describes Sara and Ben. Every time I looked over at them, they were both smiling from ear to ear - they looked so happy! I managed to catch Ben in a in a bit of introspective moment. I remember how I felt walking out that door on wedding day, knowing that my life was about change forever - for the better!

Sara and Ben had a special flower girl - just the cutest sweetest thing and Ben’s daughter.

I just can’t imaging how I’m going to feel when Kate and Nina are married and I’m dancing with them at their wedding. I’m sure it will be a mix of joy, pride and a little sadness.

Cityscape, as usual, got the crowd jumping and really made the party so much fun. Fred Ruddock from Alphabetical Order did a wonderful job with the florals and (from Sara) for our cake, we used Tom Hambor from Food Glorious Food on Bryant Street in Pittsburgh.  He is a fantastic Chef and can do wonders with any cake.  His artistry is beautiful, and he likes to be challenged and tap into his creative side.  If you tell him your favorite flavors, he will try to make a cake from scratch that represents you.  I would recommend him a hundred times over to anyone looking.  Obviously, I am a fan!

Sara and Ben honeymooned in Aruba and are at home in Manchester, NH, enjoying married life!

While it may be months away from your wedding day, it’s still not too early to do a little planning with the goal of making your wedding day relaxed and fun.

We try to get involved and help with your itinerary, but whether due to distance or timing, that’s not always possible.

We see the same little glitches happen week after week and can predict how smoothly the day will go based on the itinerary. We can even tell you which hair salons consistently run late.

No names mentioned here, but ok Kathy won the prize for the fastest dresser in the history of wedding preparation - 4 minutes from walking in the door of the bridal room to walking down the aisle - very impressive!. I have to say that she was calm, cool and collected but might have wished for at least 6 minutes.

So here’s some suggestions to help “de-stress” your wedding day - this is mostly for the ladies - guys are easy - shower, tux, a little BrylCream - they still make this stuff - and we’re out the door.

Make a physical list of everything you need to do and organize, have a written itinerary, give everyone a copy and on your wedding day, don’t be afraid to delegate. Your friends are happy to help. Put someone in charge of paying vendors, handling the rings and other necessities.

Try to get a good night’s sleep. You want to feel rested and clearheaded - skip the extra glass of champagne at your rehearsal dinner.

If convenient, plan a massage, get your nails done or anything to make you feel more bride-like on the morning of your wedding day.

Have a bustling practice session with your bridesmaids - some dresses are very complicated to bustle.

Hair and makeup always take longer than expected - add an hour to the time the salon estimates and if possible, bring your hair stylist and makeup artist to you - many salons will travel and I really feel that it’s worth the extra expense.

If possible, have the bridesmaids dress in the same location and add 45 minutes to the time when you really want them together.
Consider the size of your bridal party - we’ve photographed weddings with 29 people in the bridal party - and it’s fun - but, the larger the bridal party the more organization it takes and the more chance for stress on your wedding day.

Think about the distance between your dressing location, your ceremony and reception. It may make more sense and give you more time to relax, to choose a hotel near either site.

Put together a “first aid” kit (we do bring one with some essential wedding day items) with analgesics, spot remover, scissors, band aids, medical tape for those not-so-perfectly fitting gowns, crochet hook to help with those endless buttons, sewing kit, bobby and safety pins and a glue stick.

Plan an hour to get something to eat - while nerves may curb your appetite, it’s a very long day and some food and water are critical.

Use professional transportation to take you to the ceremony unless maybe you live out in the country with a squishy driveway - have a backup plan in case the limo is late or gets lost - leave extra time!

Consider a professional event planner - Barb and I have mixed feeling about this - we’ve seen some party planners who are terrific and helpful and some who are better at the creative side of event planning, but when it comes to itinerary planning - well, not so much.

Choose the right photographer! Unlike any other vendor at your wedding, you’re going to be with your photographer all day long. Choose a wedding specialist - someone with whom you feel comfortable and someone who will “go-with-the-flow” on your wedding day. A “bossy” photographer or videographer is going to create a lot of stress.

Everyone is different and it’s normal to have a million different feelings running through you on your wedding day - try to have fun! (Barb and my biggest wedding day regret). Don’t let the small stuff bother you. It would be highly unusual to have everything go according to plan on your wedding day. Try to keep in mind the “big picture” - that this is one of the best days of your life!

Barb and I love to do engagement sessions.

It’s a great time to get to know our clients - their interests, their work - and to learn about their families - it helps us to a better job on their wedding day and it makes wedding day just a little more comfortable. And, it’s just tons of fun.

Abir and Bob are getting married at Nemacolin next spring. We photographed their engagement session at Hartwood Estates near our studio and the best time with them. They’re so nice!
While we’re well passed the peak fall season, we still have some good weather and nice color for the next few weeks - minus the 5 inches of snow yesterday.

Come on, Indian Summer…..

Here’s a few of my favorites:

We’re sorry if we missed your call these past few days - we were in Atlanta for a business management seminar with the Professional Photographer’s Association.

This is the time of year - well, preferably January when things begin to slow down a bit - where we try to attend some educational seminars. While we prefer the creative seminars, most photographers and artists in general don’t come from a business background - mmm…. no business classes in Pitt’s Philosophy department .

We debated but finally decided to take Kate with us to the seminar. I was afraid she was going to be bored, but I think she had a good time - working out at the Hyatt (an amazing building architecturally), watching a little TV and hopefully getting some school work done. We did manage to spend time together at lunch and dinner and tour CNN for her video production class - very cool.

So we’re back with lots of great ideas to provide our terrific clients with an even more amazing experience with us!

One of the cool things about Pittsburgh is - travel just a few miles outside of the city and you’re in a different world - wide open spaces, crisp air, friendly people - it’s farm country!

We just had a blast at Bob’s senior portrait session - hanging out in the barn, moving the tractor around and having fun in the corn field - no city slickers here.

It was really a nice change from our urban sessions - think I might dust off the cowboy boots!

I’m not sure I can pull of the Stetson, though.