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August 15, 2008
March 18, 2008
March 15, 2008
March 01, 2008
February 29, 2008
storyboards and fingertips
I love this latest storyboard for one of my favorite families (the black border is just for posting here on the interwebs). You may remember the little ones from Drew's newborn session this past fall. He is now five months old and a complete doll. And Leia is the cutest big sister in the world. It's hard to say who enjoyed blowing bubbles in Drew's face more--Drew or Leia!
My own doll baby suffered some misfortune while I was taking these pictures. He was at our neighbor's house, and accidentally got his finger closed in the sliding glass door. It happened to be at just the right angle and just the right amount to amputate his fingertip (I'm not even being melodramatic--our discharge papers actually call it an "amputation").
We had quite the lengthy ER wait, but he is on his way to recovery now--the specialist seems confident that it should grow back more or less on its own. He is very brave about it, and now that it is a little more protected in a splint I feel a lot better about his "I'm going to jump off furniture cause I'm doped up on pain killers and you feel too sorry for me to yell at me" antics. Were it not for the giant bandage you would never know the kid was injured!
February 24, 2008
February 19, 2008
two
The little one will be two tomorrow. Hard to believe that he is two, but it is equally hard to believe that it has only been two years! This has been such a big year. One year ago, he wasn't even walking, now he's running and jumping and talking and potty trained (with a love of "hot" chocolate--hence the sippy cup).
I am pretty ridiculous about our home movies--I take them, ruthlessly edit them, and create little movies of our life. Today I discovered that the "2007 home movies" dvd I had spent a dozen hours making was missing an entire 90 minute tape of raw video. I was pretty bummed to have to go back and re-edit...but on the flip side, it was a tape from exactly a year ago. And what a difference a year makes!
February 17, 2008
over 1000 votes!
The 2008 Real Couple of the Year wedding photography contest hit 1000 votes this afternoon! We still have four weeks left of voting, so anyone have any guesses at what the final vote tally will be?
This set of pictures cracks me up...they weren't intentional, it's just what happens when you have two photographers for parents. It's the same shot from two different angles--we couldn't have executed it better if we'd discussed doing it! (Poor Will doesn't stand a chance...)
February 16, 2008
join us on facebook
Inspired by Cindy and John, I've created a Real Photography Facebook group! If you're on Facebook, we'd love you to join the group.
We are amazed by all the voting! Our finalists are better at motivating voters than the presidential candidates! (Of course, if voting in elections was as easy as pushing a button on a website, I think a lot more people would vote!)
We are watching the back end of the poll and our site stats to make sure that everything checks out, so please encourage all of your friends and family to continue to follow the rules and only vote once!
I also finally have a new picture of myself, thanks to Nic! Nothing says "there are geeks in the neighborhood" like going out for a family walk with two cameras!
February 15, 2008
2008 Real Couple of the Year Finalists
Click here to visit our main website and see the wedding photography the winner will receive.
Whew! We received a ton of entries yesterday! (Here I was thinking Coloradans were shy--it turns out they're just last-minute contest entry-ers!) :D
We had so many entries, and all of them were amazing, that it was very difficult to select the finalists. In fact, we had to bump up the number of finalists from four to six.
We felt like we knew each couple after reading their emails, so have decided that everyone has to win--at least a little bit. All of our entrants will receive either a free engagement portrait session or $300 off our wedding coverage. We thank everyone for entering and are sorry that not everyone could be finalists!
The Voting - ONLY VOTE ONCE
The poll is designed to only allow one vote per computer. Any couple suspected of cheating will be disqualified, so please follow the rules!
Voting will close at midnight on March 15th.
The Finalists...
Cindy and John – 23 August 2008
My name is Cindy, and I would like to share my love story with you. My fiance, John, and I are both first lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force. We are both KC-135 Stratotanker pilots, and as such conduct air refueling for other jets. That probably makes us the highest paid gas station attendants in the world!
How We Met (or "The Usual He-said, She-said")
John and I met a few years before we even considered dating
each other, as freshmen (actually we were called "fourth class cadets")
at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Though I had worked hard
to land a congressional nomination and appointment to the Academy, my
first real exposure to the military and life away from my small
hometown was a bit daunting. But I'd been running on sports teams
basically my whole life, so joining the Academy's cross country and
track teams was my release. I found that running was the same no matter
where you were. It was at one of the first few practices that I met
John.
John was born and raised in central Florida, near Orlando. He was the tall, dark haired, stunningly handsome, and confidant guy you'd expect to meet in a beach town. I figured there would be no chance he could ever be interested in me. Years later he told me that I had caught his eye during those first few practices as well--me in my short running shorts and spaghetti-strap sports bra--but of course I had no idea at the time.
Time passed, and we became teammates, mere acquaintances--because I could never work up enough courage to really talk with him outside of practice. The next summer, my boyfriend-at-the-time failed to pick me up at the airport upon my return from summer leave at home in California. While I was on the phone with him, furious and stranded, John walked up to me in the airport and offered me a ride. I was embarrassed, but took him up on the offer. He was very pleasant and friendly, but I was sure he was laughing on the inside at me and my awkwardness. He tells me now that he had enjoyed talking with me so much, he decided then that he was going to date me someday.
Over the next two and half years I ran into him at various times. Every time we'd meet he would stop and ask me about things--classes, running, my family, my boyfriend--and he genuinely seemed to care. I'd always walk away thinking he was so sweet and sincere. Of course in my head I was swooning over the fact that he actually remembered my name! He says he was always scheming on how to take me out on a date. He wanted me to know that he cared, and to make sure that I didn't forget about him. At long last, he asked me out, and we just clicked—chatting through our first date for more than seven hours!
Fast-Forward (or "Insert Complications Here")
John was born and raised in central Florida, near Orlando. He was the tall, dark haired, stunningly handsome, and confidant guy you'd expect to meet in a beach town. I figured there would be no chance he could ever be interested in me. Years later he told me that I had caught his eye during those first few practices as well--me in my short running shorts and spaghetti-strap sports bra--but of course I had no idea at the time.
Time passed, and we became teammates, mere acquaintances--because I could never work up enough courage to really talk with him outside of practice. The next summer, my boyfriend-at-the-time failed to pick me up at the airport upon my return from summer leave at home in California. While I was on the phone with him, furious and stranded, John walked up to me in the airport and offered me a ride. I was embarrassed, but took him up on the offer. He was very pleasant and friendly, but I was sure he was laughing on the inside at me and my awkwardness. He tells me now that he had enjoyed talking with me so much, he decided then that he was going to date me someday.
Over the next two and half years I ran into him at various times. Every time we'd meet he would stop and ask me about things--classes, running, my family, my boyfriend--and he genuinely seemed to care. I'd always walk away thinking he was so sweet and sincere. Of course in my head I was swooning over the fact that he actually remembered my name! He says he was always scheming on how to take me out on a date. He wanted me to know that he cared, and to make sure that I didn't forget about him. At long last, he asked me out, and we just clicked—chatting through our first date for more than seven hours!
Fast-Forward (or "Insert Complications Here")
Two years later, the military put a stumbling block into our
otherwise ordinary development as a couple. We were both in pilot
training, and it was time for each of us to make some career decisions
about first, what type of airplane to fly and second, where we each
wanted to live for our first assignments (about four years). I came
upon decision-making time first and though we were very much in love,
we decided I should ask for assignments based on my personal
preferences and we'd figure things out with us down the road. My first
choice: Fly KC-135s in Mildenhall, England. And sure enough, I was
granted orders to England as a KC-135 pilot! I was so excited.
Seven months later—more secure in our relationship and ready to commit—it was time for John to request his first assignment. His request: KC-135s to Mildenhall England, in hopes of following me. The tanker was not actually his favorite, but it might make it more likely for us to be stationed together. As we waited to hear the results of his assignment, I packed up my belongings, shipped them to England, and bought a plane ticket in preparation for my departure. Much to our dismay, John was given orders to fly KC-135's, but in McConnell, Kansas. Instead of Great Britain, he would be living in the Great Plains. Now he was stuck flying a plane that would not have been his first choice, and we wouldn't even be living on the same side of the Atlantic.
He had sacrificed a lot for the chance of being with me, and so I decided it was time I do the same. I requested my orders be changed to Kansas in order to be with him. John of course did not want me to give up England--he knew how excited I was for the assignment--but life with him in Kansas would bring me more joy than life alone in England.
I moved to Kansas in October, with the two small suitcases I had planned on flying with me across the ocean. With all the rest of my belongings already being shipped to England, I had no furniture and was even borrowing shower towels for months, but I knew I had made the right choice. Things started to fall into place in December. My belongings finally arrived back from their voyage to England (my couch is now more traveled than I am) and I settled into my new place. Then on Christmas Eve in my hometown, John asked me to marry him!
Our Wedding (or "Happily Ever After … Mostly")
Seven months later—more secure in our relationship and ready to commit—it was time for John to request his first assignment. His request: KC-135s to Mildenhall England, in hopes of following me. The tanker was not actually his favorite, but it might make it more likely for us to be stationed together. As we waited to hear the results of his assignment, I packed up my belongings, shipped them to England, and bought a plane ticket in preparation for my departure. Much to our dismay, John was given orders to fly KC-135's, but in McConnell, Kansas. Instead of Great Britain, he would be living in the Great Plains. Now he was stuck flying a plane that would not have been his first choice, and we wouldn't even be living on the same side of the Atlantic.
He had sacrificed a lot for the chance of being with me, and so I decided it was time I do the same. I requested my orders be changed to Kansas in order to be with him. John of course did not want me to give up England--he knew how excited I was for the assignment--but life with him in Kansas would bring me more joy than life alone in England.
I moved to Kansas in October, with the two small suitcases I had planned on flying with me across the ocean. With all the rest of my belongings already being shipped to England, I had no furniture and was even borrowing shower towels for months, but I knew I had made the right choice. Things started to fall into place in December. My belongings finally arrived back from their voyage to England (my couch is now more traveled than I am) and I settled into my new place. Then on Christmas Eve in my hometown, John asked me to marry him!
Our Wedding (or "Happily Ever After … Mostly")
We will be sharing our vows in front of friends and family back where it all began—in Colorado at the Air Force Academy, in the beautiful Cadet Chapel on August 23, 2008. (If you haven't seen it before, the Chapel is simply gorgeous--every photographers dream;) ) I couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out, but there are still many obstacles in our future.
Long term, even though we are stationed together now, every re-assignment brings with it the risk of being separated. The needs of the Air Force will always trump the desires of the wedded members. We are thankful for our good fortune so far, and will never take it for granted! Wedding-wise, planning is kind of difficult. With my family living in California, his family in Florida, me in Kansas and him in Oklahoma (he won't be moving to Kansas until a few months from now), all arrangements must be made via email and phone exchanges. As if that were not difficult enough, I will be deploying to the desert in a few weeks in order to do my part in the War on Terrorism. I've heard of brides planning weddings from Iraq, but that's never how I imagined my wedding planning would go. I just keep thinking about heading down the aisle in my elaborate white dress (I'm thinking elbow-length gloves would go well with his crisp, navy-colored mess dress uniform, right?), with the colored light streaming in through the Chapel's modern windows spanning the height of the majestic spires—and John ahead of me. With him by my side, I'll always be home.
OK, so it's a bit cheesy--but what's a bride without her cheesy love story? This one's mine!
Aubree and Zach - 5 July 2008
We loved Aubree's creative approach to the contest--could it get any better than a poem? I love where she uses "berserk" to rhyme with "work." That's a bride we want to hang out with!
We met at our church.
Zack was the cute boy who I stalked.
One time after Mass,
in front of me he walked.
He got my e-mail address
and set up our first date.
We rode our mountain bikes
and Mexican food we ate.
Starting on that day
about a year and a half ago,
we’ve been inseparable
as this short poem will show.
We watch movies and play soccer,
play board games and go run.
We take road trips and vacations;
we’re always having fun!
Zack plays guitar-me, violin;
we’re both in the church choir.
Soon enough we realized
of each other we’ll never tire.
So things became more serious
after Zack said, “I love you.”
I started to believe this man
was my lifelong dream come true.
Atop Kenosha Pass
on a mountain bike ride
was where Zack proposed.
I’ll admit I cried.
Now he travels to New York
each week for consulting work.
It’s hard when he’s away;
sometimes I go berserk.
Meanwhile I teach sixth grade
helping kids learn to read and write,
and work on wedding plans,
making sure the details are just right.
On July 5th we’ll be married
at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church.
And there with friends and family,
I’ll end my husband search.
Afterward we’ll party
at Mount Vernon Country Club,
toasting, drinking, dancing,
and eating all the grub.
Zack can’t forget the date.
There will be fireworks each year.
Hints of our anniversary
will always be quite clear!
But how will we remember
the moments of that day?
We’d love beautiful photographs
without having to pay!
So we’re entering this contest
in hopes that you will feel
that we’re the couple of the year
and want to see our love is REAL!
Sarah and Dan - 20 September 2008
Who wouldn't like a couple that has a picture of themselves shortly after sunrise?! (That's right, I said "sunrise" not "sunset.") I loved that Sarah's well written entry had a theme. I happen to be sucker for a good theme (just ask my friend Laura who recently suggested that maybe Will's second birthday party didn't need to have a theme...)
There has been an uncommon thread throughout our relationship…rocks. As unromantic as this sounds, bear with us and we will explain.
Sarah is a Colorado native, born in Salida and raised in the Denver suburb of Thornton. Her education led her to the Colorado School of Mines where she earned a Masters degree in Geophysics. Shortly before graduation, she accepted a job that kept her in Denver.
Dan was born and raised on the southside of Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois where he earned a Masters degree in Architecture. A few years out of college, he was drawn to the natural beauty of Colorado and accepted a transfer to his company's Denver branch office.
Luckily for our story, Tracy, one of Dan's co-workers, is also a good friend and college roommate of Sarah's and knew we had similar interests in rock climbing and outdoor activities. Tracy thought we would make a good couple so she organized a low key group ski trip to introduce us the first weekend Dan moved to Colorado. Needless to say, Dan was not aware of the plan. But Tracy's plan was successful and we went out on our first date two weeks later.
Our love of the outdoors (and rocks) has taken us on several exciting adventures. It began with weekend camping and climbing trips in the Colorado mountains and has extended to the beaches and volcanic islands of Maui, Hawaii, to the rock arches and canyons of Moab, Utah.
Fittingly, our most recent vacation was to the red rock desert of Sedona, Arizona and the magnificent Grand Canyon. While hiking through Boynton Canyon in Sedona, Dan completely surprised Sarah with a different type of rock. A beautiful ring and a marriage proposal amidst the canyon walls made for the perfect beginning of our engagement.
So, as rocks have emerged as a common theme throughout our relationship, it is very appropriate that our wedding ceremony will be held at Red Rocks Park on September 20, 2008. Among the rocks formations, with the support of our loved ones, we will share our love for each other as well as our unusual thread.
The picture attached was taken on our vacation to Maui when we hiked the Haleakala crater after watching the sunrise.
Matt and Megan – 25 October 2008
Matt and Megan have your traditional “boy meets girl, boy dates girl” story…except with a thirteen year gap in the middle! We love their plans for a colorful Pittsburgh themed wedding!
First, let me point you in the direction of our wedding myspace page as it has a lot of information posted.
myspace.com/weddingstuff
Matt (29) and I (soon-to-be 29) met in eighth grade when we both lived in Pittsburgh. We were friendly, but not friends, not in a relationship, just acquaintances. In tenth grade, my family moved to North Carolina and that was that.
13 years later and out of the blue, Matt wrote me a short, cute note reaching out to me on MySpace (note posted on our page). That note sparked and off we went. Four months later, Matt moved from Tampa to Denver. That was 2006. He proposed just last month and now we're planning our --
October 25, 2008 wedding!
We will be married at Trinity U. Methodist Church in downtown denver at 4:30p in the afternoon. Directly following, we'll party down at The Curtis Hotel!
Our colors are orange, navy, cream, w/ red, maybe some purple and of course, brown. (ha ha ha.) Pretty much all. The reception room will be filled with hundreds of balloons, we'll have huge photographs of places in Pittsburgh blown up and framed around the room. There will pretty much be an underlying Pittsburgh theme all around (mini steeler footballs for the escort table...??) Table cards named after areas in Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill, etc.) Place mats will be vinyl that we spray paint orange because --
My fiance, Matt, is really into indie music. He'll probably set his turntables up, bring his records, and let anyone play. In addition, we'll have an iPOD playlist and we're asking people for song requests on our r.s.v.p. card so the floor will be lit up all night.
And I'm the kind of girl who WILL be dancing like a total freak all night. We were in Orlando for a family reunion a couple weeks ago and I stopped the dance floor in 3-seconds flat and formed a dance circle. I am very, very goofy.
First dance will likely be a mash-up off Marvin Gaye/Mary J. Blige's 'All I Need.'
Bernadette and Haydn – 6 September 2008
I fell in love with Bernadette at her consultation . Her infectious good humor, down-to-earth personality, and impressive knowledge of what’s IN in the photography world right now endeared her to me immediately! I can’t wait to meet Hadyn at their engagement shoot! (Bernadette and Haydn have already booked us for their wedding—we can’t wait!)
If you ask anyone that knows us what we are like- either individually or
as a couple- a few words you may hear would be: goofy, funny, pranksters,
silly, or mischievous. Growing up, I have always been the comic relief in my
family. I am always laughing and doing things to make others laugh as well.
When dating though, I never found anyone who “got” my sense of humor- let alone
match it.
When I met Haydn though, I knew I was in for a dose of my own medicine!
He grew up the same- always making people laugh, playing practical jokes with
his twin brother, etc. We started laughing on our first date and haven’t
stopped since. We have had what some may call a “whirlwind” romance. We knew
within the first two weeks that we would get married. After 3 months we were
engaged. Our friends and families were completely supportive because anyone who
spends time with us as a couple gets it- we really were made to be together.
Humor is one of the main parts of our relationship. I truly think that if
you can laugh together, you can get through anything. This became immensely
apparent to us recently when I suffered a back injury. Since my accident, Haydn
has become the sole provider in our household- working two jobs while I was on
bedrest. After working 75-80 hour workweeks, he comes home and takes care of
everything around the house- no easy feat at our residence either (we have 2
dogs and 2 cats).
His number one concern is always how Im feeling and how I am doing that
day. He makes sure I have my medicine, and that I take it with food so it
doesn’t upset my stomach. He runs a bath for me and helps me in and out of the
tub. He has taken his vacation hours from work to drive me to and from dozens
of doctors appointments so he can be there every step of the way. He’s had to
dress me, put my shoes on, etc. My independence was completely lost and I
depended on him for mostly all of my basic needs.
Most people would look at this as a chore, or get tired of my asking for
help all of the time.. Especially on top of working such long hours and having
to do all of the housekeeping. Not Haydn. Not only has he taken such good care
of me, but he has made sure that we have kept our sense of humor throughout the
entire process. When he knows I am in pain or depressed from being housebound,
he will do whatever it takes to make me laugh and cheer me up. Whether it be
something simple like a funny card, or one of his more elaborate tries to make
me smile- such as making up and singing a funny song, dressing up in a goofy
outfit, etc- he always succeeds and cheers me up. In fact, a few times I had to
tell him to stop because it hurt to laugh that hard!
I am currently on the upswing of my injury. It’s a slow process but I am
getting better. I can do a few more things every day, reclaim a bit of my
independence. This experience has taught me two very important things- #1 that
laughter truly is the best medicine.. And #2 that I am the luckiest girl in the
world.
As we move towards our wedding date on September 6th and we plan the details,
we both have agreed that photography is the most important thing to us. We are
planning an incredibly fun and personal day. We don’t care about elaborate
centerpieces or fancy invitations. We are looking forward to a day that is
truly just about love. Our love for each other and for the incredible group of
people that we are blessed to call our friends and family. To have wonderful
photographs of this immense love that we feel would truly be a dream come true
for us.
Clare and Vern – 7 September 2008
When I read Clare’s
email, I knew she would be in the finalists. I love that their love story is different from your traditional fairy
tale. It begins in heartbreak, but, as
things always do, shows that situations work out for the best, even if it’s
hard to believe at the time!
Our story is unusual. Vern was a friend of mine. He was married to my friend, a girl who was in the same theatre company with me. I have been friends with them for four years. In 2007, my friend (his wife) told me that she was romantically interested in a man in our theatre company. I tried to help her as best I could—I recommended that she and Vern go to couples counseling, that she tell him what was happening. She said she didn’t want to do that. She told me she had decided to leave him. And she did. They had been together for fourteen years, seven of which they had been married.
At the same time that was happening, I was in a relationship with a man who was a playwright and film director. We had been having problems because he was never around—always out of town, going to London, New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, you name it. I had tons of free time, and so I started hanging out with Vern and my friend Steve a lot. Steve and I were trying to lift Vern’s spirits, get his mind off of how sad he was. One day, on September 7th, Vern and I hung out alone. He took me on a motorcycle ride, which was so exciting! I told him I had never been on one and he totally surprised me with it! After that, we sat on his porch and talked till the wee hours of the morning. I realized when I got home that night that I was starting to fall for Vern. I broke up with my boyfriend. I went home to visit my family in Colorado. Before I left for Colorado, I got a letter from Vern in the mail. He said that I had put a hundred stitches in his broken heart. He signed it “with new and true love.” When I came back, the first thing I thought was “I have to see Vern.” Everything in me was pulling me to him. I went to his house straight from the airport.
From that time on, we have been inseparable! He lent me the book Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut, and mentioned that he didn’t think that kind of love existed in real life, until he met me. The book talked about “the nation of two”—the small world, and the only world, for the husband and wife in the story. I adored the story; it was perfect for us.
I started sending him postcards when I was in Colorado, and I still continue to do it, even though we live in the same town. He writes me songs, I write him sonnets. He comes to see my plays; I go to see his band play. We support each other. We believe in each other.
We will have a small wedding in my high school English teacher’s backyard. My parents are going to make chili and cornbread and we will have a string quartet. We are getting married a year to the day of that first motorcycle ride—September 7th—the first time we were alone together. It turns out that love doesn’t work by the rules, and that it takes you by surprise, and that it sometimes comes from the most unexpected places. Vern is the best man I know, and when I say forever, when I say that I will love him for the rest of my life—I mean it with all my might. He is the greatest and most unexpected gift of my life.
February 12, 2008
looking for '09 senior reps
This is a drive by posting...we're very busy right now with wedding meetings!
There are two days left to enter our Real Couple of the Year contest. We are booking lots of '08 weddings, but everyone is too shy to enter the contest! We currently have only three entries...and there are four spaces for finalists! You're practically guaranteed a spot in the finals if you enter!
It's time to begin the search for Class of 2009 Senior Reps! If you know anyone that is currently a junior in a Colorado Springs high school, send them over! (Double-click to see the full size ad)
January 28, 2008
Year in Review Albums for Sale
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting to debut these...and they are finally here!
Click here to see an online tour of the book and view each page spread
The thing about photographers' kids is that they tend to be a little neglected in the photograph department. Sure, their mommies and daddies take pictures of them, but when it comes to actually printing them out or doing something with them...well, the photographer is too busy ordering and printing and framing other people's babies.
Around Halloween, I was feeling really overwhelmed by the idea that 2007 was going to go largely un-scrapbooked and then I came up with an idea--why not create a year in review coffee table book that housed all of the great and hilarious photos of 2007 and then I could scrapbook them at my leisure, because their need to be printed, recorded, and shared would be met.
I was planning to offer this service to other photographers equally overwhelmed by their own photos until I decided that there are plenty of busy non-photographer moms that would also like to partake in a "send your photos to Traci, get back a finished book" service.
I ordered the albums on New Years morning after finishing off the December page and writing the note at the back--the perfect way to start a new year. And today, a box of the albums arrived (the grandparents' late Christmas presents will be arriving soon)!
The albums
Photographers have all sorts of secret spectacular album vendors, and these albums come from one of them. These are not printed by blurb or Shutterfly or Snapfish--they are printed by a high quality professional album vendor. They are hard cover books and the pages are protected with a varnish coating. They come in an opaque slipcover. There is a vellum page right before the title page that adds a little extra somethin', too:
How it works
You'll send your photos on a disc to me. If you have never done anything but download them, check a few and see if the EXIF data shows the date. If it does, you're golden--just pull out the pictures you'd like in the birthday spread (and stick them in a folder labeled "birthday"), repeat the process for Christmas, and send me your disc.
If you would like to be more hands on (or your pictures don't have the date in the EXIF data) send a disc with 17 folders--one for each month of the year, one for the cover picture, one for the title page, one for the birthday spread, one for Christmas, and one for the closing page.
You'll also need to send (either on the disc or by email) the text you'd like for the closing page of the album.
Number of photos
The spreads in the book average around 15 pictures. Some have more, some have less, so I'll arrange the design order to work best for the number of photos you have in each month. It's okay if one month only has 3 pictures and one has 20. I don't recommend sending more than 20 in any given month, or some will likely be left out.
Journaling
For the purpose of my own book, which I wanted to be as quick and painless as possible, I limited the journaling to the final page--a brief recap of our year and my thoughts about Will. You are welcome to submit journaling for each spread, or just one or two in particular. If you include journaling, don't include more than 15 photos for that month.
Other Album Topic Ideas
These albums would also make great gifts for graduating high school students. Instead of devoting each page to a month, each spread could be a grade. Vacation pictures also make great coffee table albums.
Pricing
Hard cover 7x7 books are $250. Hard cover 10x10 books are $350.
Duplicates
The albums make fantastic gifts for grandparents and godparents. Duplicate 7x7 soft cover albums are $65, 7x7 hard cover albums are $95, and hard cover 10x10 albums are $175.
Shipping
Shipping for the albums is included in the price. Albums will be shipped via USPS media mail.
Deadlines
My album vendor takes approximate five weeks to deliver the albums to me. Your album will arrive about two months after I receive your pictures. Please keep this in mind if you are ordering a gift. If your timeline is tight, I can provide an online version of the album to show the recipient if the actual album can't make it in time.
Ordering
To order, please send an email to me: traci@realphotography.com
January 27, 2008
playing with texture
Texture is one of the trendy things in post-processing right now. I decided to try it out tonight with this oldie but goodie.
