Always KISS Me Goodnight | Leather wedding album

Before I was a professional photographer, or even a decent hobbyist, I had a treasured collection of 10-12 slip-in albums each with 200-250 photos plus boxes of loose prints that served as an account of my life.  As my technical photographic skills have improved and my editing has become refined, I realized that the imagery that I was creating for couples should be showcased in a special album. Thus began the search for a high-end wedding album that reflected my modern, clean style and evoked a sense of importance, elegance and beauty.  

After months of searching, I'm proud to introduce the KISS album to my product line as my signature wedding album.  It comes in buttery 100% leather or soft linen covers in a gorgeous array colors that clients can select to suite their style or mirror the colors of their wedding design.  Each book is carefully hand-crafted by the talented folks at KISS, located in Indiana.  You can definitely see their Hoosier pride as they carefully print, cut, cover and ship each album by hand. 

With every notable release comes a grand opening.  To mark the introduction of my new line, I decided to surprise my delightful clients, Alex & Sara Chrysler at their wedding photograph reveal appointment.  I brought them in just under 3 weeks after their May 2nd wedding, and we reminisced about their wedding over a glass of shiraz. After chatting about their honeymoon, I surprised them with a video slideshow presentation of their wedding day. It was so sweet to see Alex reach over to hold Sara's hand and watch them laughing and at times tearing up at their images.

When it was finished, I spent some time talking about the various fine art products that I carry, building up momentum to reveal my newest product.  I spoke excitedly about my new Leather albums.  I handed them the cover samples to peruse while I extolled the virtues of hand crafted albums.

And then I silently set this sample album in Sara's hands.  

  

Yep.  That's right.  In under three weeks, I busted out a full wedding gallery, designed a custom sample album which was then handmade and rush shipped just in time to slide it into Sara's hands and watch those dimples emerge as she smiled that slow, sweet smile.  (And if you're lucky enough to know Sara, you know exactly what I'm talking about.)  I think it left Alex speechless, but by the careful way that they handled the album and the tender looks they shared, I think they were happy.

This is why I'm a business owner.

This is why I'm a photographer.

Thank you Sara & Alex for making the long drive up to view your wedding images.  I hope that the experience was memorable.  I am very proud of your wedding images and beyond grateful to witness your lovely reaction to them.  Thank you for choosing me as your wedding photographer.

And remember...

ALWAYS KISS GOODNIGHT.

You can learn more about KISS album company at http://kiss.us/books

The album featured is a 12x12 fifteen spread (2 page spread) Leather Album in the color Tiffany.

Wedding Sparkler Exits

Browse weddings on Pinterest for a few minutes, and you'll likely stumble on a sparkler exit shot.  It's a festive way to end a wedding and to celebrate ushering the newlyweds off to their honeymoon.  Besides, nothing says it's a party then a little fireworks.  I want to rock that shot for you, so here's some tips to help get a great Sparkler Exit Shot.

Buy Bright, Long Burn Time Sparklers with Low Smoke Emission

That's fancy talk for saying if it smokes like a chimney, the photos will be a hazy mess.  And if the burn time is only 45 seconds, you may not have the whole line lit before the the first ones flame out.  My best advice is to test them at home before using them at the wedding.

Set Aside 20-30 Minutes

Yes, the DJ can make an announcement to your 250 wedding guests to relocate for the sparkler exit, but it's a bit like herding cats.  Assign two people to be the shepherds.  Their job is to organize everyone.

Make a W-I-D-E Aisle

Seems logical.  Sparklers can burn at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  Sending a bride in a long veil, with copious amounts of hairspray and a fluffy dress with a train through a narrow tunnel of sparking flames is maybe not a great idea.  

2 Lighters + 2 Shephards = every 4th Sparkler

It would take too long to light each Sparkler individually.  So have your helpers each take one side of the aisle, and then they will light the sparkler of every fourth guest.  The Guests will then help light the sparklers in between them.

Walk, Don't Run

If it were me, I would totally duck and run too.  Depending on the ambient light conditions, focusing may be tricky and running makes it more challenging.  If you really want to make me a happy photographer, stop about 5 guests short of the end and give her a dip and a slow kiss.  

Sara & Sean | engagement | Polen Farm | Kettering, OH

Sarah & Sean are, as the kids say, adorbs.  Sarah showed up to their engagement session with cute outfits and ideas, their puppy and a perfect up-do.  To say she's a fun gal is an understatement.  She giggled.  A lot.  Put her with her hunky firefighter fiance in front of my camera, and they were naturals.  Flirty, light-hearted, sexy and totally adorable.  And when I said, "Hey Sean, dip her and give her a kiss,"  he brought it.  Happy photographer dance!  

 Yep.  She giggles.

 This one feels gentle, yet a bit sultry.

Best. Behaved. Puppy. Ever.

 Swoon!

 That kiss is muy caliente!

Sara & Alex | engaged

I knew from the moment Sara smiled at Alex that I wanted to photograph them.  Sara is a tiny woman with a radiant smile, a true sweetheart.  Alex is confident and strong.  And together, well, they just kind melt into one another.  They were both very open to creating a dreamy engagement session.  The pond, the waterfall, the gardens... it was so beautiful that day that it was kinda surreal.  It felt like I was intruding on a perfect, romantic date.  In the end, I captured some of my favorite images to date.  I love-love-love their engagement session!

And in a few days I'm finally photographing their wedding.   

Heather & Adam | engagement | Beavercreek, Ohio

It's always risky to plan an engagement session in March, but Heather and Adam wanted some outdoor shots.  We lucked out and caught some unseasonably nice weather, and what was supposed to be a quick session turned into almost two hours of shooting ending with drinks.  They. Were. Fantastic.  Perfect models and darn cute together.

Babies, Flags & Photographs

As a stay-at-home working mom of three, it can be a bit challenging to balance the needs of my beautiful kids while giving my clients the best service possible.  Wet laundry is sometimes forgotten in the machine, dishes pile up in the sink and I'm still trying to work my way through four online photography courses.  I'm two years behind on every cool TV series, and I catch up on the news through snippets on NPR and Yahoo.  Daycare would make things easier, but I'm determined, utilizing the inherent powers of coffee and dark chocolate, to make it work so the little girls can make their messes and hit milestones at home.

Suffice it say I don't have the luxury of spending my time on banal news stories like this even if it's about my profession. 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/photographer-fights-backlash-baby-wrapped-american-flag-picture/story?id=29557727

To be fair to ABC, they're simply reporting about what's trending on social media.  Normally, this wouldn't catch my attention; however, I know a bit about the back story that wasn't reported.

Two days ago, a local respected colleague of mine became alarmed when a composite photograph that she created was digitally stolen and posted to a distasteful Facebook Page Which Shall Remain Nameless.  Her image was of a new father in military dress uniform cradling his newborn who was draped in the US Flag.  The Page is operated by an anonymous person(s) who posts images taken by other people and include an often sarcastic critique of the technical execution of the photographer.  Images are typically watermarked by the photographer, although that isn't necessarily an indication that the photographer is a professional.  It's common for amateurs and students to put a watermark on their photograph.  The anonymous administrator(s) state that they use images that "have been sent in for critiques from the photographers themselves."

Except they didn't have permission to use my colleague's image.  And what ensued was a scathing commentary about alleged misuse of the US Flag.  My colleague was mortified and quickly messaged the Page administrators to report the copyright violation.  She believes the image was stolen when she presented the image to a group of baby photographers while seeking help about creating the composite (baby and father were photographed separately and the images were merged)  The Page took down the image and instead used a photo by Vanessa Hicks, the unwitting photographer who is now fighting a backlash of controversy and, I suspect, cleaned house in a mad panic before news crews arrived to film that ABC piece.  (I'm totally guessing that Miss Hicks works from home, but if she does it seems logical that she subscribes to the universal method - I Get More Housework Done In The 60 Minutes Before Company Arrives Than I Do All Week.)(Heh, heh... I said 60 Minutes while talking about an ABC story.)

Now, I don't know if the Facebook Page Which Shall Remain Nameless had Miss Hicks' permission to post her image, but the administrator(s) went on to the belittle the service member in the photograph by name and Miss Hicks for what he/she perceives to be a violation of the US Flag Code.  And the Page has re-posted my colleague's image.  Now, I'm not active duty so I can't speak to the career ramifications of violating Flag Code.  And I'm not an attorney, but I doubt this violates any flag related law (United States v. Eichman.)

But I'm pretty damn sure that unlawful use of a photograph violates US Copyright, and it's a sad, sad day when a photographer(s) does it to another photographer and then hides behind anonymity and illogical arguments. The Facebook Page Which Shall Remain Nameless defends their posts by stating "Let's stop and be real here for a minute shall we?  Our page is nothing but a business review page. We see a bad photographer, we review their work publicly for others to see.  Are business reviews considered bullying? If I go to a restaurant and their food is always cold and I say so on my page, is that bullying them? No. Sorry. It's not. Stating the truth about a bad business is not bullying. It's what the public deserves."  

But, how can you review a business that you never hired?  

If you're still reading this, you might be wondering why they are Nameless (because bad behavior doesn't deserve attention or notoriety) and what this has to do with VHP?

I've been educating my clients that, if they post images to the Internet, please use low-resolution, watermarked images to deter theft or unauthorized use.  It won't eliminate the possibility of misuse, but it's harder to use a low-res image for marketing purposes and printing.  I respect my clients, and I don't post sneak peaks to my blog or social media sites if they request it.  I have two gorgeous wedding couples that are not featured in my portfolio because they asked me to keep the images private.  Yep, it sucks for marketing reasons, and, okay, vanity - I took this! Ermergersh, I love it!  Hire me! - but sometimes people just have serious concerns about privacy.

If you are military personnel and would like to have a photo of your new baby with the US Flag, I will gladly oblige.  Then again, I just might send you over to my colleague, the local baby photographer, as her composite image was the bee's knees.     
    


The author, Valerie Hawkins, was born on Flag Day which grants her inherent authority on all ethical matters of Flag Use.  

Alright, perhaps not - but how many of you had to Google "When is Flag Day?", hmm?

        

Hill | family portraits | Beavercreek, Ohio

The Hill Family welcomed me to their home to update their family photos.  Their house sits on a beautiful piece of property, but sun was setting in the wrong spot.  So we set off around the corner to a residential construction site and shot most of their sessions in this field.  Wildflowers and tall grasses had taken over the mounds of dirt and the sun was beautifully setting through the trees.  Perhaps they thought I was a bit crazy to suggest this spot, but it's beautiful spot.

Nick & Kate | engagement | Dayton, Ohio

Nick and Kate are a quiet, reserved couple, so I was especially honored to be invited to photograph their engagement and wedding.  My favorite image from their session prominently features yellow wild flowers (ragweed, perhaps?) and negative space... it's a bit more artistic.  And Kate selected it as a print.  I like it when clients dig my favorite images.