HEATHER JORGENSEN

New Site

2008-12-13T12:51:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! I know I've been saying a new site was coming for the better part of this year. But now, we have finally got it up and running. Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds so you can continue to see my new posts and pics at www.heatherjorgensen.com.

I will still keep this blog open so you can view my older posts and pictures. Thanks to everyone who has visited me here over the last two years! I look forward to showing you more on the new site.

Cheers!
~Heather

Free Holiday Music for Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T07:41:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving. While I awoke way too early today, I saw this offer and wanted to share it with you. If you click on this link, you can download free - for the next 48 hours - 8 holiday songs from some of the greatest names in the music industry! How cool is that? I'm loving the Harry Connick, Jr. track.

I will be officially closed today as Jeremy and I attempt to cook our first real turkey. But never fear - we bought the one with its own 1 800 help hot line.

Happy Turkey Day!

Holiday Print + Card Orders

2008-11-17T12:06:00.011-06:00

If the Christmas candy being sold during Halloween didn't clue me in then yesterday's trip to the deli counter - decked out in colorful lights and a menagerie of ornaments - made it quite clear. The Holiday Season is here!

Now is the time to get your Holiday shopping done and that includes your print and card orders. December 1st is the last day to place your order with guaranteed delivery on or before December 24th.

If you're interested in a portrait session for the Holidays, please call or email me soon. I have a few openings left for this year and I'm recommending that sessions be done within the next two weeks. That way, you'll have a chance to order before the deadline.

In case you're wondering what our 2008 card designs look like, here are a few examples. Each card is 5x7 and is customized with your wedding or session images either on the front cover or the inside spread.

You can place your card order by clicking here. Since each card is custom designed, please allow additional time to receive your cards for the Holiday Season.

Happy Monday!

~Heather

Changes

2008-10-29T12:13:00.003-05:00

Hello there! I wanted to let everyone know that our site is currently undergoing changes. I think it will look great once it's finished. But until then, please continue visiting the current blog here.

Thanks for your patience! Cheers!

~Heather

Phyllis + Joe ~ the Gallery

2008-10-19T10:19:00.004-05:00

After much anticipation, I am pleased to unveil Phyllis + Joe's wedding gallery! Head on over to my boutique site - HJclients.com to view more of their gorgeous day. Happy 3 week anniversary! =D

~Heather

Joe + Phyllis {Austin, TX}

2008-10-01T11:54:00.056-05:00

I have been looking forward to Joe + Phyllis's wedding ever since their May engagement session. Jeremy and I had so much fun that we couldn't wait for their wedding. This past Saturday at the Green Pastures Restaurant, their day finally came. With friends and family flying in from both East and West Coasts, we knew we weren't the only ones feeling the amazing love and energy between this couple.

Sweet Joe + Phyllis ~ What an amazing experience! Phyllis's constant laughter and Joe's charming grins fill our memories and echo in your images. What a wonderful connection you have with your friends, your family and with each other. Thank you for allowing us to share in your day and witness those crazy moves on the dance floor. *wink*

Cheers!
~Heather + Jeremy

Wedding Gown: Siri, Inc, Shoes: Steve Madden, Location: Green Pastures Restaurant, Austin, TX, Event Manager: Tanya Davis, Music: Patricia and Chris, Floral: Central Market

Beth + Ben's Gallery

2008-08-29T22:19:00.004-05:00

Beth + Ben's gallery is officially up! Head on over to my clients page to view all of the images from their wedding in the mountains. I'd also like to wish Beth + Ben a Happy 3 Week Anniversary! They're so cute! ^_^

Enjoy your holiday weekend everyone!

~Heather

Beth + Ben {Missoula, MT}

2008-08-12T17:38:00.032-05:00

This past weekend, Jeremy and I flew up to Missoula, Montana for the wedding of Beth and Ben. We had photographed Beth's sister's wedding back in 2002 and it was wonderful to see everyone again.

Beth and Ben decided to host their wedding at a mountain ski resort - Snowbowl. Though there was no snow in sight, the mountain was alive with wildflowers, deep green pines, a rippling brook and lots of mountain bikers. They couldn't have picked a more perfect place to be married in.

Honey was a reoccurring theme for them. They included a "honey-tasting" during their ceremony and they gave out honey bears as favors to their guests. I couldn't help but continue the theme with one of the honey rings for their ring shot. ^_^

In keeping with the grape motif and color scheme of the wedding, Beth wore red shoes under her grape embroidered gown.

Beth and Ben are the cutest couple. Throughout their ceremony, they were smiling, giggling and making everyone else laugh right along with them.

Aren't they adorable?

I love it when a group suddenly bursts out into song. Beth's side treated the couple to "You Are My Sunshine" while we took group shots. Not to be outdone, Ben's side hit a home run with "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." ^_^

There was no singing with the bridal party.

But there was a lot of laughing and hugging...

...and jumping...

...and running!

Oh, and kissing! This is the fun part.

Beth and Ben's ceremony arbor was draped in bunches of gorgeous grapes and climbing vines. For future brides out there, remember: grapes can double as snacks while your taking your couples shots. ^_^ I didn't think the grapes were real at first - until they started eating them - while we were photographing them. I love these two!

At last, it was time for the reception at Snowbowl's - The Last Run Inn.

Cupcakes made for a fun cake feeding.

I think it's safe to say that everyone was having fun. ^_^

Sweet Beth and Ben: You were an absolute joy to photograph. Thanks for letting us be apart of your celebration. Enjoy your honeymoon in Banff (or as Beth says, "BAM~ff"). ^_^ Cheers!

~Heather

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Snowbowl/Last Run Inn
Florist: Habitat Floral Studio

Out of the Office 8/7 - 8/11

2008-08-06T10:59:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone,

I wanted to let you know that I'll be out of the office tomorrow Aug. 7 through the weekend. To where, you ask? I'm off to Missoula, Montana for Beth and Ben's wedding! I'll be back on Monday afternoon to return any call and emails I might have missed. I'll also be posting trip and wedding highlights as soon as I can. I wonder if the charming alpine ski lodge has internet. =)

Wish me luck and enjoy your weekend!

~Heather

Inspired by...

2008-08-01T13:08:00.007-05:00

I'm inspired by many things - the world being one. Yes, it's a big world. But the world starts with what's right in front of you. If you let me, I'll wander around for hours just following the things that visually intrigue me.

Yesterday, I decided I needed a little wandering time. So I grabbed my camera and walked out the door. I had no idea where I was going but I didn't need to. I just followed what I saw.

Here are some of my visual wanderings.

Thanks for looking! Have a wonderful Friday! ~Heather

Fizzy, Whirly, Wonderfulness!

2008-07-31T08:19:00.007-05:00

I had the most wonderful experience last night! I went to a seminar! ...huh? Yes, a photography seminar.The Austin leg of The Free To Succeed Tour by David Jay and Jasmine Star. Sound fun? I know, I felt the same way going in. "These two are great photographers. I'm sure what they say will be helpful, informative, and educational. Can't go wrong with learning a new thing or two."

What it turned out to be was one, big eye (and heart) opener. I can't say I ever cried at a seminar before, but I'll admit it, I cried during Jasmine's talk. It just hit me - a deep connection to one of her experiences. It resonated with me so much, that tears just came. It totally took me by surprise. Is this still a "seminar"?

What began with DJ and Jasmine's encouragement and simplistic yet profound insight continued to follow me throughout the night. I didn't get much sleep. =) I couldn't help it! I was so excited and anxious and ...everything all at once! I could feel things buzzing in me that hadn't "buzzed" in a long time and I didn't want that feeling to go away.

So I am writing this post for me. To keep me honest. To keep me real. What I learned from DJ and Jasmine is something I want to take into my photography and beyond. It's a new way of thinking and living. And I really want to remind myself over and over again just how this fizzy, whirly wonderfulness feels - until I can make it my own.

Thanks for listening to me. =) I appreciate it. If you happen to be a fellow photographer/ creative mind, check out the tour site for the city nearest you. If you're able to get to one of their seminars, go! It was the best thing I've done for myself and my future in a long, long time.

(I'd like to say hey to the ladies I met last night! Grace from Corpus Christi and Courtney from beaubaby right here in Austin. I hope you came away with as much inspiration as I did. Keep in touch!)

{new product} Coffee Table Books

2008-07-15T12:55:00.006-05:00

Look what showed up on my doorstep this morning! Isn't it cute? As soon as I opened the package, I knew I had to take some pics to show everyone. Look! You can see my dot cover through the bag. ^_^ More dots! More dots!

This is my first coffee table book sample from my new vendor. They are available in several sizes and in hard or soft cover styles. I decided to create a little 5x5 soft cover to showcase my portrait images. This book is really perfect for gift-giving or as a brag book. I like framing one picture on each page so your book has a clean and modern look. Of course, you can choose your cover from several designs and shades. I just couldn't resist the polka dot yummy~ness. To round out the presentation, every book comes packaged in a cloth bag to protect the book.

This lil'guy is just the first of several new samples arriving this summer. I'll post more as I receive them! Yay, new goodies!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Cheers!
~Heather

Karin + Giles Gallery is Up!

2008-07-11T17:31:00.005-05:00

Hello, everyone! For those who have been waiting patiently for Karin + Giles gallery, I'd like to announce that it is official up and running! Head on over to my Clients site to view it. Enjoy!

Karin + Giles {McLean, VA}

2008-06-27T15:03:00.015-05:00

Last week, I traveled back to the DC/Virginia area for Karin + Giles Wedding. I had been looking forward to their wedding ever since we met last fall. From the beginning, they knew exactly what they wanted – great music, friends and family, and lots of fun! I think they definitely achieved that and more. The day ran smoothly thanks to Amy Williams coordinating the event. Even the rain held off until it was officially time to depart. =)

To Karin + Giles: Thank you so much for allowing Jeremy and myself to be apart of your celebration. It was our pleasure to document your day and the many wonderful friends and family who came to support you. May Peace, Love, and Happiness follow you in the years to come!

Cheers!
~Heather + Jeremy

Ceremony Venue: Cherrydale United Methodist Church - McLean, VA
Reception Venue: Hendry House - McLean, VA
Coordinator: Amy Williams

Out of the Office

2008-06-16T12:05:00.003-05:00

I will be out of the office starting this Wednesday as Jeremy and I head out to another East Coast wedding. I'll be back on Monday (the 23rd) to answer all of your emails and phone messages.

Thank you for your patience!
~Heather

Charlie + Michele's gallery is up!

2008-06-10T11:01:00.006-05:00

Run! Do not walk! Charlie + Michele's Gallery is now open! Where? Head on over to my client page: www.HJclients.com and click on the awesome couple. You can also get to the site from the blog side bar. So what are you waiting for? go now! hehe ...and enjoy!

~Heather

*Update: Cake Cutting pictures are up. Cheers!

A Little Design for your Holiday Weekend

2008-05-23T20:11:00.006-05:00

I will be out of the office from tomorrow through Monday. Any emails and messages I receive during that time will be answered when I return on Tuesday. I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend. I know I'm going to. =)

If you're looking for a lil diversion this holiday, why not swing by Snippet & Ink. They're an awesome wedding design blog like no other. These ladies are always coming up with unique and fun "inspiration boards" to base your wedding around. I love to pop in every now and again to see what they've come up with. Here are some of my recent favorites: Carnival Ride, Sweet Tarts for Sweet Hearts, Retro Picnic, Cinco de Mayo, and Sunshine Fix. I just love their names!

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend (browsing) everyone! ^_^ I'll see ya on Tuesday!

~Heather

Charlie + Michele {Washington, DC}

2008-05-16T14:35:00.051-05:00

Jeremy and I had such an amazing time last Saturday at Charlie + Michele's wedding in Washington, DC. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful, kind, giving - and fun couple to photograph! I won't talk too much because I know they've been waiting patiently to see this post. So I'll just say this.

Charlie & Michele: Thank you for allowing us to be apart of one of the most awesome, fun and loving weddings we've ever been to. Your family and friends made us feel so welcome and we could totally feel the love they had for you. May your lives continue to be surrounded by the warmth and humor we witnessed at your wedding. ^_^v

Enjoy!

Just so you know, I was humming the "Rainbow Connection" for two days while editing your pictures. =D

Site: The Cosmos Club
Onsite Coordinator: Jennifer Ludwig
Gown: Anne Barge
Music: Unified Jazz Ensemble
Flowers: Philippa Tarrant Floral Design

Out of Town

2008-05-06T09:57:00.002-05:00

I'm heading off to the airport for this weekend's wedding in DC. It's going to be so amazing! I'll definitely be posting highlights next week so stay tuned.

While I'm out of state, I'll still be able to answer your calls and emails within 24-hours. I'll also be continuing my "tweets" on what we're up to. ^_^v

Enjoy your week everyone!

~Heather

Joe + Phyllis

2008-05-05T18:23:00.018-05:00

Over the weekend, we shot an awesome engagement session with an awesome couple - Joe and Phyllis. We had gorgeous light, great weather, a couple who was up for anything (woot!) and a high-flying pup named Kingsley! What more could we ask for? =)

Dear Joe + Phyllis: You made it too hard to choose your final picks. Couldn't you have gone easier on me? lol. Thanks for one freakin' awesome session! You guys rocked hard like Mr. Van Damme himself! =D Jeremy and I can't wait for your wedding in September!

Ch~ch~ch~changes!

2008-05-01T09:46:00.005-05:00

My current website is being taken down to make way for new changes. *que theme song* Ch~ch~ch~ch~changes! In the mean time, please peruse the blog posts, pics, news and the all-new "tweets" to the right. ^_^ I'm really digging Twitter now. hehe

You can still contact me at 410.818.6748 or email me here: info@heatherjorgensen.com

I'll keep updating the blog as new ch~changes occur. OK, who has that song stuck in their head now? :) Happy Thursday!

Wedding Season Approaches

2008-04-30T21:01:00.003-05:00

Wow, these last two weeks have just flown by. I've been busy working on several projects. One is almost ready to go while another is still being tweaked. I'm quite the perfectionist so it may still be a bit until they're unveiled. But when they are, I know my clients and my readers here will really appreciate them. ^_^

I've also joined a social network called, "Twitter". Basically, I've installed a little text box at the top right of this blog where I can type in what I'm doing whenever I want. Jeremy introduced it to me and I'm trying it out. It's actually kind of fun updating it. Who knows, it might just become my new online addition. hehe =D

Jeremy and I have also been gearing up for wedding season. We're kicking things off next weekend with our very first Austin e-session. I'm so excited! Then the following week, we'll be jetting off to Washington DC for a very awesome wedding. Is this really my job? lol... Yeah, it is. Don't get me wrong, I do actually work - a lot. But it's so worth it to meet cool people and help them capture their most important moments for them - all while being creative! I'm so grateful to the couples that allow me to do what I love and I thank them for it!

This is going to be a great year so stay tuned for all the latest and greatest!

(Our new) Home Sweet Home

2008-04-14T18:00:00.003-05:00

Home. It's something I've been pining over these last few months. It's also what I've been hinting about in some of my previous posts. We've been waiting and hoping and biting nails - on pins and needles even! And now, we've finally found a place to call home - Austin, TX. It was touch and go there for a while, but I'm happy - and relieved to say we are now officially Texans.

We moved into our new place this weekend after a few months of temporary living quarters. =) I won't post any pictures of the mountains of moving boxes and the battle scars of sharpie ink. They'll be gone soon enough. I hope... But just image this: sunny skies, 78F in April, and no sign of winter blahs! Farewell, East Coast. Hello, Lone Star State!

We're loving life here in Austin. There's a thriving artist community, a retro vibe with some neat eat-in theaters, live music and concerts, SXSW, rockin' sushi runs with awesome people, parks, rivers and lakes, a cool city skyline, rolling hills and plenty of green trees. It's not how I pictured Texas to be at all. FYI - I used to listen to the old Lone Ranger Radio Drama tapes as a kid and that was basically how I got my idea of Texas. ^_^ It's so summer here. Temperatures have gotten to 91F with healthy mixture of humidity. (90% - that's healthy, right?) Still, we wouldn't trade our new hometown for anything.

On the photography side of things: our internet, email and phone are all up and running. We're looking forward to booking our 1st local wedding - in Austin. Yay! =) So if you're from the Austin area or know someone who is planning their wedding here, we're available for consultations and couple portrait sessions. We already have a few couples interested which is really exciting!

If your wedding is in Maryland, DC, or Virginia and you're thinking - shoot! They moved! Never fear. We'll be back off and on in 2008 for our current wedding clients. So if you'd like to meet with us then, let me know. I can travel all over the US (and the world) for weddings and portraits. Just tell me where you'd like to have your wedding or session and I can create a travel quote for you. Being here in Austin makes my travel times shorter and the country just a little bit closer. Just one of many reasons why I love Austin - our (new) home sweet home.

Over the next few days...

2008-04-10T08:10:00.002-05:00

We will be updating our hosting and web services over the next few days. This could mean that our current email and site may go up and down - in and out - and all around. It could be a full on Twister show-down! =)

So until we get settled into our new comfy server, please email me here: heather.jorgensen@gmail.com or call me at 410.818.6748 so I can be sure your inquiries aren't lost to the internet's email-eating abyss.

Happy Thursday everyone!
~Heather

3 years ...(and a day)

2008-04-05T09:58:00.010-05:00

Yesterday, I awoke to a torrent of rain. I thought it was ironic. Three years ago, I had awoken to the same rain gusts - hundreds of miles away. However, the morning's rain didn't stay long. The sun broke over the clouds by afternoon - exactly as it had done three years to the day - April 4, 2005.

I remember that day so clearly. It was truly the happiest day of my life. I think Jeremy feels the same way too. =) Can you guess what happened three years ago (and one day)?

Happy Anniversary to us! hehe... I was so happy at our wedding and completely stress-free (even though there were plenty of things that didn't go exactly according to plan). But because I knew that us getting married that day meant we would always get to be together, I was fine with whatever came my way. We'd still be married at the end of the day!

We played hooky yesterday and spent a special anniversary lunch at a new favorite (in a new home town) - Mikado's. The music was hip. The setting: hot, moody, and a little sultry too. Seriously, what I wouldn't give to do a photo shoot in there! I was talking to Jeremy about it throughout our meal. Jeremy, can you picture a boudoir shoot over there on that lounge sofa with that spot light? Wouldn't it be awesome? It'd be HOT! And of course, the food was yum~mmy! Jeremy approved of the tempura fried, pound cake wrapped-ice cream. ^_^ (Random thought) You know the weirdest thing yesterday? The color scheme at Mikado's was in our wedding colors. Even the actual texture of the bridesmaid's dresses were part of their wall decor! Weird coincidence, huh? Or maybe it was a diabolically genius plan of Jeremy's to surprise me and re-decorate the restaurant JUST for our Anniversary?! lol... (Jeremy said he didn't do it though. Shame, that would have been crazy romantic - or just plain crazy.)

Hopefully we can extend the anniversary celebration through this weekend. Three-day fun (anniversary) fest! Woot!

To Jeremy: Happy Anniversary, my love! These three years went by way too fast! But that's ok. I know we got plenty more to enjoy - so bring them on! I can't wait! ^_^ love, Heather

Wishing everyone a day(or weekend) of love with someone extra special!

~Heather

WPPI 2008 Recap!

2008-04-01T09:20:00.033-05:00

It's been a week now since the crazy awesomeness that was the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) 2008 convention. I'm trying to let everything soak in. It really is information overload while you're there. But the experience and knowledge you get is so worth it! I left Las Vegas bursting with ideas and drive!

This year, I took tons of pictures so I could remember everything! I don't know about you, but my photographs have started to replace my memories - or at least they're strengthening them and staving off my age-prone amnesia. I'm so glad I did this because I met a lot of great people that I want to remember and keep in touch with! Also, I want to bottle up everything that lit a fire in my soul and challenged me to create beauty in the humdrum of our every day lives. When I feel a rainy day coming on, I'll just open up the lid (or photo folder) and let the ideas run loose! I tell ya, being there was like breathing pure oxygen. I didn't want to leave, but Jeremy said I had to. So did the security guard. ;( Why can't I stand in line for next year's convention now? lol

Our trip began with a few firsts for me - sharing a plan ride with a dog! I didn't know you could bring them along with you, but there he was! Cute, cuddly, adorable, and extremely well behaved! (The other first was an impromptu portrait session at 33,000 ft.) ^_^

This year, attendance was up around 11,000 photographers! As you can see, it made for some fun times in the mosh pit ...er, I mean, the trade show line.

Our first night there, they began with a program called, "Young Guns". The name implies 12 young pro photographers who are leading their fields with unique and awesome styles in their photography.

Here's Jose Villa. He and the other "Young Guns" decided to add some spectacle to the night by sporting cowboy boots and hats while re-enacting the "toy pop" gun fight at the WPPI corral! :)

Here are the Young Guns (from left to right): Ryan Schembri, John Solano, Mike Larson, Gene Higa, Lori Nordstrom, Jesh De Rox, David Jay, Catherine Hall, JB & DeEtte Sallee, and Jim Garner. (Check out that sweet smoke effect!)

Young Guns group pics! Yay! That right one leads me into one of the most amazing people I've ever heard speak or even met! See him in the middle? That's Mr. Jesh De Rox (pronounced "rocks").

I had the amazing privilege of meeting Jesh several times throughout the WPPI. He's an incredible person to be around - genuine, giving, super-talented and truly one of a kind!

His talk the following night focused on being yourself! We've all heard it. But has it really hit us? We all have something to give to the world and if we aren't ourselves, the world misses out on what we could contribute to it. By us all giving and sharing, we lift everyone up. That's what his newest project is about - Upward Spiral. He wants to find amazing people and give them an "innerview" (yes, inner not inter). We got the chance to watch a sneak peak of his first one with singer, Amy Seeley. It was very personal and touching. I can't wait to see more and I'd encourage you to check it out once the project goes live! (Oh yeah, we also talked about photography too. ^_^ But as artists, photography is just our medium. What we want to say with our photography is really what's important.)

Miss Amy Seeley. I've loved her songs since I first heard them play on Jesh's site. We're treated to surprise live performance during Jesh's presentation. WOW! It was so surreal and beautiful! If you have never heard her, please check out these links! She really is a gifted artist!
Amy's Website
Amy's MySpace Page

One word: Yummy! Can you believe this is what Vegas calls a 'candy apple'?

While we're on the topic of food: Le Burger Brasserie has the best chicken burgers this side of the strip!

Remember how I was raving about the trade show and the awesome albums they have? Well, I wasn't disappointed. This is Cypress's cute mini album! I know I showed a pic of it previously. But this was the first time I got to flip through one myself. When you pick it up, you just wanna say, awwwwwwe! Cypress's handmade albums and luscious fabrics are to die for! I'm so glad I'll be offering these albums this year!

This was our view from our room! Check it out! We were so high up, we could see all the way to Paris! hehe... (the Paris hotel anyway)

Sexy. Chic. Right outside the burger pub!

Besides taking away all of the good memories, tips and tricks from this year's show, we also brought home a new lens! Jeremy was kind enough to be my test model =D Seriously, this is one rockin' lens!

Thanks for looking through my pics! I hope you enjoyed them! I'd also like to wish you a Happy April Fool's Day. I tried to think of something fun I could post about today, but I'll I could come up with was making this blog EXTRA HUGE! Bwhahahahaha! April Fool's! ...no, seriously. Thanks for stopping in! Have a wonderful Tuesday everybody!

~Cheers!
Heather

The whirlwind has left the building!

2008-03-24T09:11:00.009-05:00

We're back! (finally)

Jeremy and I are exhausted from our trip to Vegas. It was even more wild and crazy than we could have imagined - but in a good way. :) My head is spinning with images and ideas and we're both just trying to process them all now. Oh yeah and our images too. *hehe* I will be making a bigger post with pictures soon. But I wanted to write in and say we haven't forgotten about you guys. I am so excited by what I learned at the WPPI and I can't wait to share my experience with you!

Easter snuck up on us this year. We didn't have time to dye eggs sadly =( but we did manage to snag some easter sweets - in particular, those awesome Cadbury creme-filled eggs and a few packs of the traditional Easter delight ~ Peeps! The eggs didn't last long (of course) however, I did manage to catch this scene.

Me - "Jeremy, these peeps are sooo cute! Hold one so I can take a picture!"
Jeremy - "I have blue sugar on my fingers."
Me - "That's okay. It's pretty. Now turn him. That way. OK, more... more."
*click*click*click* (I look down to check the view screen)
Me - "OK. Now I want you to... Jeremy, where's the peep?"
Jeremy - "maawhheee, hewwahh... immmaah... mooowoohhfff..."
=}

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!
~Heather

We're off!

2008-03-12T16:25:00.006-05:00

I'm so excited! Jeremy and I have been waiting months for this weekend to come. Can you guess what's happening? We're off to Las Vegas!

Nope, we won't be gambling. And we probably won't have time to take in any shows - though I've been really curious about Cirque du Soliel's KA & LOVE productions. So what WILL we be doing? For a whole week no less? Wait for it... *drum roll*

It's time for the 2008 Wedding & Portrait Photographers International Convention! *CHEERS*

Last year was our first time and it was a week long of one incredible experience after another. I believe 10,000 photographers made it to Vegas from as far away as Australia! And everyone we met was so open and helpful and encouraging. There's such a wealth of giving, talented, and extraordinary photographers gathered together. The creative verve is so energizing and revitalizing! I can't wait to go back now and meet our old friends plus make a bunch of new ones! I'm looking forward to seeing Jose Villa, Jesh De Rox, Gene Higa, Joe Bussink, Mike Colon, Jerry Ghionis, Jules Bianchi, David Jay, and so many more! Everyone in the wedding photography industry will be here and we will be having an absolute blast! :)

Oh, I also get to peruse the greatest of all Photographic trade shows! A trade show may not sound like fun, but just the new albums that debut here each year are worth a day trip to Vegas. (Yep, I love albums!) I'm also looking forward to the surprises I'm sure I'll stumble upon. I know there will be many! I can't wait to hunt them down and bring them back for my clients!

I'll be keeping the blog posted as the convention starts rocking! And of course, it IS Vegas. I may just have to play hooky for a few minutes and capture Sin City in all its splendor! I can't just post pictures of convention rooms here, now can I? =)

Wish us luck! One week of Photography bliss/overload, here we come!

~Heather

P.S. All of our emails and calls will be checked daily. So leave us a message and we'll get right back to you!

Welcome, Baby Zimmy!

2008-03-06T10:42:00.005-06:00

I awoke to a pleasant email today. =) Joanna and Justynn, one of our previous couples, welcomed a new member into their family this very morning: Zimmerli Ezra Ross Mayo. I was lucky enough to see some of his first photos and he's quite the charmer. ^_^

Congratulations, you guys! I wish I could be there to photograph his first days but I'm sure Nana and Papa already have that covered. ^.~

To Baby Zimmy: I wish you a world full of happiness, joy, curiosity, and many, many sleep-filled nights!

Cheers and Congrats!
~Heather

The Future's Looking Bright

2008-02-25T09:04:00.004-06:00

I love this image I got of Jeremy this past weekend. Can you guess what we were up to? Hint: Changes are a' comin' and we're very excited! =)

Stay tuned...

~Heather

Happy Love Day!

2008-02-14T15:11:00.007-06:00

I want to wish everyone a Happy Love Day! If you've found that wonderful someone, I hope you will fall in love all over again today. Remember that flowers and chocolates aren't what make people fall in love. Was it his eyes that drew you in? Was it her laugh that captured your heart? These things first brought you together so celebrate them! If you haven't found that Mr. or Mrs. Right, no worries! Why not celebrate the love you do have in your life? Think about the people who show us love every day: parents, children, friends, sisters, brothers, mentors, collegues - even pets (they love us oodles). Why not take a moment to thank them? I bet it would totally make their day!

I challenge everyone not to let their Love Day stop at the flowers and adorably stuffed teddy bears. When you have love in your life, embrace it! Cherish it! Celebrate it!

As for me, I would like to thank my sweetie and hubby for his love - of which I am in awe of daily. Without you, my life would not be the same. :) Thanks Jeremy!

Happy Love Day! ^_^

(photo by Jose Villa - a super awesome photographer!)

New 2008 Collections

2008-02-06T13:18:00.001-06:00

Goodbye, 2007! Today marks the official debut of our new collections - circa 2008! What's the difference? Well, lots!

First big news: we are now accepting weddings through 2009. That's right, everyone that has asked me about their 09' dates can now contact me to reserve your wedding and get a copy of your 08' rates before the 09' ones come out. ...lol Thank goodness those are still a year off!

Second big news: wedding negatives are included in all of our collections. We have four of them now(instead of three) - and also what we call base coverage. This is our standard coverage for every wedding and this is where we give you the wedding negatives. ^_^ Base coverage is included in all of our pre-made collections. But it can also be used as a starting point to create your own custom collection. If you are interested in hiring us for your 2008 or 2009 wedding, email me soon to receive your own custom quote.

I'm really excited to announce our cutest parent album ever! Look at this adorable 5x5 (mini) album! It's made exclusively in Japanese silk with a wide range of colors to choose from. And it can be created with traditional matted or flush mount pages. With its twenty images, the mini is the perfect length to give to your parents or even to yourself as a brag book!

(photos courtesy of cypress albums)

We first announced our online slide shows this past fall. This year, copies of the slide shows can be purchased on DVD for home viewing - complete with their own custom case :)

In 2008, our albums receive a re-vamp. The original any size album now becomes four: 5x5, 8x8, 10x10 and 12x12. We will continue to offer our custom album option - where you can choose your album's size and shape. Albums come standard with the silk bookbinding covers (but you can still have the option to have them made in leather, suede, (new) acrylic, or metal). We will also design your flush mount album by the number of images rather than the number of pages. This way, we can design the best album for you without being confined by a limited amount of space to tell your story.

I love creating albums for our clients. To me, an album is just as important as the pictures themselves. I'm that in love with albums! It is my hope that by offering four new sizes, everyone can create their first family heirloom. Seriously, everyone should have an album to remember their wedding day :) Oh, and these albums aren't just for weddings. Engagement albums, bridal portrait albums - whoa! Your pictures can look hot in these - especially when I design them! Does anyone remember that amazing 10x20 titanium beauty at our show last fall? That was an engagement album, ladies!)

If you are interested in seeing our full 08' collections and options, email me here or through our website's contact form and make sure to include your wedding date.

If I may stray off topic in this last bit, I'd like to give the movie, The Last Mimsy two thumbs up! I got to see it last night and, although I wasn't expecting much from it, I actually really liked it. It's whimsical, it's fanciful, it's in Seattle, and it's a neat twist on a classic tale (another favorite of mine). I love movies that encourage you (and children) to use your imagination and forget the humdrum of our everyday known world. And there's some great humor too! My favorite line of the night, "I haven't eaten in 8 hours." "It's called sleeping." ^_^ Don't expect all of the movie's mysteries to be answered. I guess it's like it's own modern fairytale in that way. Some things should just be believed and enjoyed. Oh! And the bunny's cute too.

~Cheers!

Last Day

2008-02-05T10:17:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! I wanted to remind everyone that today is the last day to book us with our 2007 rates. They will permanently be retired tomorrow to make way for our 2008 collections and goodies. If you've been considering us for your wedding photography, you can still talk to me today and reserve us under the 07' rates. Although, the 08' collections are pretty sweet too :}

Switching things up, I wanted to share a little surprise I got yesterday. Jeremy came home from a random run to Home Depot (don't ask) and says, "I got something for you". "Oh?" I get nervous when he starts pulling out Beware of Dog and Exit signs - reaching deep into the bag. "It's an early birthday present," he tells me and hands me a chunky black box. Mind you, my birthday is this month but not for a few weeks. I think he's realized by now that it's pretty tough to surprise me. I am one of those kids who on Christmas morning knew exactly what type of present I got by the weight, sound, and shape of the present. Well, this time he got me! And just look at the little treasures inside that little black box!

I LOVE tea! I'm a huge fan of green tea - especially hoji-cha (or roasted green tea). There's something special about taking time out of your day no matter when it is and slowing it all down for a slip of tea in the prettiest little tea cups! It was such a sweet gift from my sweetie and it really made my day! ^_^

In need of a giggle?

2008-02-04T21:17:00.000-06:00

I've been slacking a bit in my blogging. So I'd like to dedicate tonight's post to everyone out there who needs a giggle. And I'd also like to preface this video with this disclaimer: I do not support the biting of children's fingers nor support the children doing the biting. But I do find myself laughing at this baby's reactions to his brother. The way he chuckles gets me every time. ;} You know the baby's really the one in charge! Diabolical genius baby, lol. I do love the simple things that children do to amuse themselves. I try to keep up my childish musings as much as I can. But I promise - I won't bite.

Click here to watch the video!

Leave me an Email :)

2008-01-18T14:10:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone. I'd like to let you all know that the fastest way right now to reach me is through my email. Because of my schedule, I am able to check my emails more easily than my voice mail. And since Wednesday, with the release of my newsletter, I have received several phone messages that I have not yet returned. I do apologize for this. If you have left me a voice mail and haven't heard back from me yet, don't worry. You will by the end of today. ^_^ Thanks for your patience!

And just as a heads up, remember the awesome documentary, Confessions of a Superhero that I posted about in November? Well, it's being released on DVD this Tuesday, January 22nd. Click here to see the trailer and here to catch my post and review about this really neat movie. It's definitely worth a rent if not a buy!

Cheers!
~Heather

The Holidays Part 3

2008-01-15T13:36:00.001-06:00

After Christmas, I traveled up north to Eureka, California to visit my mom's family. It's a beautiful drive up through redwoods and hills/mountains. It flurried on the way (which is rare) but I didn't stop to shoot it. I'd seen enough snow in Maryland. ^_^

Our base camp was Grandma's house. With all of the endless trays of fudge and cookies and candy and cake (and an xbox for the kids), I think all of the family was there 24/7 enjoying the food and fine company.

This is my Grandma. I've wanted to take a portrait of her for so long.
I really love how it came out.

This is Grandma with my cousin Cassie.

Enter the willing model!

Cousin Liz in quiet repose.

The quiet didn't last long...

This is the brawl that ensued after trying to take a portrait of all the kids/cousins.
We're such a loving bunch. ^_^ It's ok though - these three are siblings.

This is the small apple orchard in Grandma's backyard. I had been wanting to have a shoot there but since I'd arrived, it had been raining and raining without end. So with a constant drizzle coming down and everyone being stuffed with holiday leftovers, what were we to do? Why, have an impromptu apple picking/photo session in the rain, of course!

Jump!

Cassie! More apples!

Liz, come join the fun!
I had to climb a very wet and slippery tree to get this good laugh.

Cousin Steph gave us moral support. Such a brave soul!

Grandma's backyard is magical. With an apple orchard, a bamboo forest and an amazingly old, distressed barn - it's a portrait photographer's dream to shoot (with some willing subjects, of course). ^_^ Cassie! To the Bamboo!

Did I mention she's a cheerleader? She posed herself!

Cousin Logan got pulled into the shoot too. He was awesome - tromping into all of those soggy apples and leaves without a single complaint. ^_^ Logan, you rock!

The GQ pose.

And this is my aunt Susie with her daughter, Cassie. Yes, I got her mom into the shoot too. Such a photogenic pair! She's also the mother of all 3 brawlers (see picture above). How does she do it?

----------------------------------

As always, my trip ended way too soon. I'm so glad I got to see everyone in the short time that I had. I hope it doesn't take another two+ years to meet up with everyone again. At least, there are pictures to remember the fun. I'm such a strong believer in capturing the memories because there's never enough time in the end. But there's always pictures! ^_^

Until next time!
~Heather

The Holidays Part 2

2008-01-15T09:23:00.000-06:00

Now comes the best part of the Holidays - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! I was lucky enough to spend both with friends, my Dad and two super cute four-legged buddies.

Everyone needs a Nun's Having Fun calendar!

He wasn't always like this. I was lucky enough to catch him on his 'just catching my breath to run amok again' moments. But can you blame him? It was Christmas Eve!

Awe! Christmas lights - decorating an orange tree. Yep! It's a California Christmas.

On Christmas Day, we got to have an awesome breakfast of Egg Nog French Toast and a game of Christmas Crackers over the breakfast table!

The Mrs. showing off her fashionable winnings.

Having a good laugh with the queen of improve herself!

Ladies, meet heartthrob number 2! Stealing the hearts of the young and those young at heart!

A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!

If you're wondering, the answer is 'yes'. This is the traditional California Christmas Dune Buggy. (Complete with light-up Christmas tree.)

I hope you enjoyed Part 2!
Stay tuned for Part 3 as I head up to the far north of California - where it actually snowed.

The Holidays Part 1

2008-01-14T10:17:00.000-06:00

This year, my holiday was a whirlwind of family, food, fun times and foto-ops all across (the northern half of) California! Yeah, two weeks there and I only made it half way through the state. :) But I took a lot of pictures everywhere we went! That means I will be making multiple posts to keep each post's length to a minimum. To kick things off, here's Part 1:

The day after I got into Santa Rosa, I got to see the Brian Setzler Orchestra - a rocking big band playing the Christmas favs in style. (Glittery red hot bass with painted flames included!) Seeing them perform made me want to run off and become a back-up singing flapper girl for Mr. Setzler. Brian, darling - Let's talk. :)

I was also lucky enough to see the musical Jersey Boys playing down in San Francisco - the city. It's a great show with great music. Check the link if you want to see more about it.

The main reason I came to California this year was to see my Dad and family that I haven't seen in a long time! (Several I hadn't seen since I was "knee high".) It's amazing how family members whom you've never known most of your life simply connect with you. It's a really cool experience that I'm glad I got to have.

I've got to post of few pics of our house in the hills we got to stay in. The beauty you find in California is one of kind. You can find it everywhere - even in your own backyard. (And yes these are all from our backyard.)

I got to meet up with my friends Ellen and Randy at an awesome local sushi restaurant named Sakura - definitely recommended! The food and the friends :)

Dad and I got to catch a few movies and have some fun in the theater lobby. The following is why you should always have your camera handy when you go to the movies!

That's my Dad! ^_^ And because turnabout's fair play, here's me with the Mark V!
Go Speed Racer!
(Photo courtesy of Dad. He's the one that first got me into Photography. Thanks Dad.)

That's all for Part 1!

Next up, more friends - more family - and some really adorable pics of puppies!

Update

2008-01-10T15:21:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to post some pics of the holidays.Unfortunately, I've been fighting a cold/flu/crazy weird under-the-weather-thing since New Years. I should be getting better any day now *crosses fingers* and as soon as I do I'll be posting those pics. I'm glad this is hitting me now because it is the best time to be calling in those sick days! :)

I also want to remind everyone that our Holiday Special will be ending in under a month - February 5 to be exact. Now that the New Year has arrived, it's time to get your wedding photography booked for your 2008 and even 2009 weddings. We will be reorganizing our packages in February so if you would like to book us under our current rates, I urge you to contact us before the 5th of February.

I send my belated best wishes to you all for this New and Awesome 2008 Year! Let's make it a memorable one. ^_^

Cheers!
~Heather

Off for the Holidays

2007-12-17T13:45:00.001-06:00

The last of the orders have been shipped out and I am finally ready to enjoy the Holidays! Yay! Beginning tomorrow, I will be out of the office and not return until - next year! :) Seriously, though, I'll be out until January 5, 2008.

This Christmas, I'll be in partly sunny and somewhat foggy California. I'm so excited that I'll get to catch up with friends and family whom I haven't seen in years. It's going to be awesome! Unfortunately, I won't have access to the internet. *gasp* (So no more blog posts unless I sneak away to a Starbucks or wi-fi shop). I'll still be taking lots of picture to show everyone when I return.

Now for a moment of fun: This weekend, as I ventured out into the overwhelming sea that is the Holiday Mall Madness, I saw the cutest pair of Christmas socks! I confess - I indulged my inner festive child and snatched them up! Red and white candy striped? Oooooh, yes! Dear Santa, 12 months is a long time... So true. I love them and I won't be taking them off until April! :)

Happy Holidays!

Dancing Feet

2007-12-11T12:09:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone! These past two weeks, I've been busy getting some last minute Christmas orders sent out. Since it's my last full week at work, I am scurrying to make sure everything is finished - on time and out the door. :)

While editing at my computer, I've been staring out the window and enjoying the scenes of lovely snow falling - and then melting. I think our yard was covered in white for one whole day! Now I'm treated to such lovely sights as fog and overcast winter light. But since colors really pop in this weather, the gray skies aren't too dismal or sad. (By the way, winter light is gorgeous for pictures!)

I was going through some photos from earlier this year when I chanced upon a darling pair. This little girl who we'll call "E" was in her grandparent's kitchen. As she was watching her family cook lunch, her feet began to do a peculiar little dance. No one seemed to see it as they were busy preparing the food - I'm not even sure if "E" knew what her feet were doing. But her little dancing feet caught my eye. I quickly caught these two moments before she had to move out of the adults' way and find another spot.

I have more images of "E". (She has the cutest, pinchable cheeks. ^_^) But these little feet remind me of the free spirits children possess and the whimsy they bring to our lives. When was the last time your feet danced by themselves?

Here's to remembering that free spirit inside all of us that just wants to break out and dance! Invite them out to play and dance this Holiday season.

Cheers!
~Heather

Happy Holidays with Elf

2007-12-03T09:24:00.000-06:00

You know the Holiday season is in full swing when you hear Country Christmas songs playing at your local grocery store. To ring in my Holidays, I've been blasting the Elf movie soundtrack. Lots of good tunes! It has all the classics with some sassy revamps. My current favorites are Pennies from Heaven, Baby It's Cold Outside, and Let It Snow.

It's no surprise that Elf also happens to be one of my favorite Christmas movies. Who wouldn't love a towering Will Ferrell in a bright green, elf costume - trying his hardest to spread Christmas cheer to all New Yorkians everywhere! It's a great movie to turn on and watch while wrapping presents, sharing a festive night with friends, or baking cookies with the family. Everyone needs a good Holiday laugh, right? I know I sure do. So lift those spirits and treat yourself to a night of great music and heartfelt fun with Elf. Happy Holidays!

~Heather
P.S. You can hear samples from the Elf soundtrack by clicking on the picture and scrolling down the page to the track list. :) Enjoy!

Cute Turkey Day Video

2007-11-22T14:43:00.000-06:00

I had to share this with my bloggies. It's just a little bit of fun to go along with your Turkey Day feast. Enjoy!

Happy Turkey Day!

2007-11-22T10:14:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Today, we are up in Eureka, Kansas on a beautifully sunny 28F morning. Ok, so it's totally freezing here. But we're quite content to stay indoors, enjoying the warm company of family for our holiday and eating lots of turkey and 'tofu-key'.

We're also counting our many blessings that we've had this year. We are so thankful for the response we've received from our clients who appreciate our vision and keep us in business. :) We realize that not everyone gets to do what they love for a living and we're totally blessed to be doing this.

So on this great Turkey Day, we give thanks, share in the company of family and friends and remember that life has as many yummy pumpkin pie moments as the sauerkraut ones! (But the best part is the late-night turkey sandwich!) Happy Holidays! :)

The BIG HOLIDAY NEWS Post!

2007-11-14T12:24:00.001-06:00

The Holiday season is upon us - my most favorite time of the year - and I feel like celebrating! Starting today, I am offering double credit on all Collections booked between now and the 5th of February, 2008. During this time, all retainers are just $1000. This means that you could be saving thousands on current Collection prices. What an awesome way to kick off the Holidays, eh? If you have been thinking of booking, contact me to see if your wedding date is available.

I'd also like to announce our newest offering - Wedding Slideshows - and I'm including them with all of my Wedding Collections. I've been dying to unveil this for weeks and now I finally can! :) Each will be a short montage of your wedding day set to music and displayed on my blog. Your family and friends will be able to view it here or they can purchase DVD copies and digital downloads (ipod compatible, of course). I'm so excited about these shows. Please click the link above to see the one I made for my August couple.

Before I sign off, I have been receiving emails about the Destinations gallery photographs. I would like to let everyone know that all of my photographs in that gallery are available as Fine Art Prints. Each print is signed by me and offered in several different sizes - most can fit under the tree. ^.^ For more information about purchasing a Fine Art Print, please click here.

Whew! Is everyone feeling the Holiday cheer yet? I am. I'll be posting more fun things as the Holidays get into full swing. I might even share my awesome holiday recipe for Double Chocolate Fudge Mint Crunch Bars (which are actually quite moist and chewy). But this is my BIG HOLIDAY NEWS post. I hope you enjoyed it. Happy Holidays to everyone!

~Cheers! Heather

"Confessions of a Superhero" is a Hit!

2007-11-03T20:06:00.000-05:00

I've been here in Austin for about a week now and all the while patiently waiting for "Confessions of a Superhero" to come out. Well, it's finally here! Today was the day that Jeremy and I headed into the heart of Austin to experience both it and the coolest theater ever - The Alamo Ritz!

We arrived a bit early because I was convinced we wouldn't find any parking on a Saturday. Of course, there just so happened to be a very empty parking garage about a block away. Since the theater wasn't open yet, we took the opportunity to walk around, taking in the street scene Austin has. It's historic. It's hip. It's cool and just a little quirky. It's Texas? Yeah. And it all adds up to some awesome vibes.

This was a fun sticker on a car parked out front of the Alamo theater. I'm thinking it either belonged to an employee or the theater has some very aggressive advertising. ^_^ (Good thing we parked in the garage :D *Just kidding*)

This area of the city is filled with restaurants and clubs with tons of character in old brick buildings. I'm just dying to do a photo shoot here. If you're in the Austin area, give me a holler and we can setup something fun! :)

In the walk up to the Alamo theater, they have these awesome red walls. Quick photo op while we wait. :)

Both of us still waiting ...oh the doors opened!

The inside of the Alamo Ritz is pretty sweet. Everything is strictly retro/cool. Old movie posters, bronze busts of Davy Crocket, old black-and-white photos of the Ritz in it's heyday - all greet you as you enter the lobby. They also show old movie clips remixed for pre-movie entertainment while you wait. Now here's the coolest thing about the Alamo theaters - they serve restaurant-quality food before and during the movie. They have small tables in front of the theater seats where waiters come and take your order. We had Robert. Hey Robert! (Jeremy recommends the Green Chile Mac n' Cheese.) Jeremy and I were in love with the whole experience. If you are ever in Austin or Texas, you must see a movie at an Alamo theater! Seriously.

Now it's time for our featured movie review!

I know that "Confessions of a Superhero" is only being shown in 4 cities (if you're in one, go see it! Seriously!) but it will come out on DVD. When it does, I highly recommend it to everyone - even if it's only a rent. Going into the movie, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I assumed they would have the stories of the four main actors and how they became character performers in Hollywood. Well yes, they did show their histories (and each has a very unique history - some with old hollywood ties and others that I won't spoil for you) but I also saw each person go through a change during the course of the film. I won't give too much away because the movie is all about the exploration of their stories and themselves: their motivation, their inspiration and their resolution. But I will say that this film is very well done and deserves all the praise it gets! The stories of these individuals become so real that you end up cheering for them by the end. I got to know each one more personally then I thought I would in a documentary film - which was very cool. Being a photographer whose purpose is to convey my clients stories and personalities through my images, I understand how difficult it can be to successfully portray the real person. "Confessions..." has done this. It also left with an interesting perspective on the whole newcomer/struggling actor trying to make it in Hollywood. It made me wonder - with so many hopefuls trying to make it and so few actually being found - is the process to stardom really worth it? Watch and find out! Seriously. :)

That's all for now from the Lone Star State!
~Heather

Confessions of a Superhero

2007-10-27T08:52:00.000-05:00

Yes, this is a true documentary. At first I wasn't sure. But knowing that it is a true story makes it all the more intriguing to me. I was so excited to find out that it would be showing in one of the cities I would be visiting this month - Austin, TX! I'm definitely going to be attending the premiere. If you're in Austin or in another of the cities screening the movie, join me in checking out Confessions of a Superhero.

Screening in:
New York City - 11/2 - Pioneer Theater
Austin, TX - 11/2 - Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Los Angeles - 11/16 - Laemmie's Music Hall
Denver, CO - 11/21 - Starz Theater

Oh and the website is pretty cool too! www.therealsuperhero.com I'll be writing more about the film once I've gotten to see it all the way through. :)

Later y'all!
~Heather (from Austin)

Out of Office

2007-10-25T12:03:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be out of the office for the next three weeks. During this time, I can receive your calls and any emails sent through our website's contact form. I have quite the mobile little office. ^_^ I will be posting more very soon so keep checking back for the latest and greatest!

~Heather

Our Baby's 1st Week

2007-10-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month our die-hard work horse of 3 years, well.... died. Our little Hyundai Accent had been with us since before we were married and had seen us through many long trips and several states of residency. Actually, it was doing rather well given that it was around 120,000 miles and we had originally bought it used (with problems that hadn't been divulged to us at the time of sale). We both knew that it was on its last legs since summer and that it would need more work than we were willing to put into it. Well, two weeks ago our little teal hatchback decided that it had had enough and promptly ejected its brakes. Yep, while Jeremy was still driving! (He managed to pull off of the road safely though ...whew!)

This sent us on a mad dash of researching and comparing countless cars and brands, all the while being under the clock. We wanted a car with good gas mileage, good pick-up and pep, lots of storage space but not a beast on the road. Finding a car like that should be easy, right? Right, no wait.... Wrong. I can't remember having so much trouble and confusion about choosing anything before. And dealing with car salesmen isn't exactly no-pressure happy fun. Let's just say that by the end of the week, both of us were about to throw in the towel and buy whatever car we came across on the next lot.

Thankfully, we didn't have to. One week ago, we walked in, drove around, thoroughly loved, and bought our new baby - a Nissan Versa Hatchback in Onyx Blue! We had the nicest salesmen walk us through everything - I'd totally recommend them to anyone in the Maryland area who's interested in test-driving a Nissan. Email me if you'd like to know their names. Jeremy loves how it drives and the power of the engine. I love the space of the hatchback for hauling our equipment. It's not that big on the outside but you'd be surprised how much you can pack inside of it. Plus, it's totally comfortable with 4 people in it. We're completely happy with our Versa and couldn't have asked for a better car. (Well, maybe next time we will add a sunroof. ^_^) You know I had to take at least one picture.
We've now become the safest drivers on the road - driving at least 10 miles under the speed limit in the slow lane. It's our first new car so I think we're entitled to being very protective, albeit very proud parents too.

There are some exciting things in the works at the moment. I can't say anything yet. But I will say we've been very busy. Also, I will be traveling on and off through the rest of the year so if you'd like to schedule a meeting or book your wedding with us, I would advise that you contact us soon to reserve an open date.

Enjoy the fall everyone! ~Heather

Embrace the Rainbow

2007-09-29T07:43:00.001-05:00

Here is a little bit of happiness I wanted to share with you today. You may have heard this song from Apple's new iPOD Nano commercial (very neat little gizmo by the way). When I first heard it, I hunted down the full video to see if it was as cool as the little excerpt on TV. Yep, it was! I love how this video is so simple with its "rainbow" choreography when most videos tend to go hi-tech and special effects and all that jazz. This one just decided to have some fun. It makes me smile every time I see it/hear it. It's a little 'Retro meets Sesame Street'. But it will definitely put a smile on your face! Enjoy :)

Style Me Pretty

2007-09-21T13:03:00.000-05:00

Now is the season when most brides begin the planning of their upcoming weddings. So I figured we could all use a little bit of design inspiration to go along with the planning. I recently came across style me pretty and found it inspiring to see just how creative brides were becoming in their wedding planning process. There are some really wonderful ideas throughout its pages thanks to the blog's creator - Abby Jean. Her sections cover: color palettes, food, fashion, paper goods, reception ideas, photography, and some very creative and chic 'how-to's. And I especially like the 'inspiration board' section. I did something similar when I was planning my own wedding and found it so helpful in figuring out all the little details and colors that I wanted to incorporate in our wedding. Plus, it gave me a great idea about how they would look in our photography. ^.^

So, if you are still in the process of planning your own wedding, why not head on over and find your own design inspiration.

Holiday Schedule

2007-09-20T12:48:00.000-05:00

With Halloween candy and costumes starting to pop up, most of us probably aren't even thinking about Christmas. Well, I wanted to give everyone a heads about our Holiday ordering schedule so everyone can receive their albums and prints in time for the Holidays. Due to the custom nature of our albums, September 24th is the last day to place your album order for a Christmas delivery. This includes orders for Parent Albums and Coffee Table Books which make great Holiday gifts. Photographic prints and canvases ordered through November 20th will also arrive by Christmas. If you have any questions about ordering or need your albums before Christmas, contact us ASAP and we can work with you. ^_^

Finally... The Truth! (About Food)

2007-09-18T15:48:00.000-05:00

Where are you going to be tonight at 8pm? At home - maybe flipping channels? May I suggest you check out the Discovery Health Channel's new series "The Truth About Food". I caught the first two episodes last night and if they were any indication of what's in store tonight, you'll find me on the couch with the TV flickering and notepad in hand - ready to get healthy! (Yeah, I take notes. ^_^) I'm the kind of person that's glued to the TV with Mysteries of Ancient Egypt on or those addictive house flipping shows. Any show that I can learn new things that I didn't know before - I'm so there! Hence this series is a welcome addition to my cool new shows to watch list.

I learned so much like - tomatoes cut down the amount your skin burns in the sun! That's totally awesome news for us with fair skin that usually end up looking like tomatoes in the summer sun. This led me to today's tomato run to a local stand for some lovely ripe ones! I'm not too sure if I could eat 11 lbs of raw fruits, veggies, and nuts every day - as was tried in the first experiment. Even so, they do give tips on how you can make small changes to your diet and still receive some benefits.

This show is a win-win no matter how you look at it. So tonight, skip that rerun of House (the season premiere is next Tuesday anyway) and check out The Truth About Food. And eat a tomato! ^_^

As a side note: I'm also the kind of person that will bake tons of chocolate chip cookies and triple fudge heavenly goodness and feed it to you on a bed of vanilla sundaes. I'm not a health nut, but I'd like to believe that eating even just a little bit healthier will balance out all the yummy indulgences in life. :)

As a side running-off-the-page note: I guess this is where I say check your local listings and times for this show. I'm on the east coast so if you're in another time zone, the show time could vary.

Fun with Animoto

2007-09-16T14:23:00.001-05:00

I had to share this with everyone. I just read another blog post about Animoto.com - it's fun, its free and it makes your photos look fabulous! Simply supply 15 of your favorite photos, pick out some cool music from Animoto's selection or upload your own, then hit create. That's it! Now you have your very own hip and styling 30 second photo show - completely free and just that easy. If you don't like how it comes out, just hit the remix button and different effects are added to it. Animoto does offer a longer show option for $3.00 per show(with unlimited remixing) or $30.00 for a year of unlimited shows. I stuck with the free version and made this. ^_^ If you have time today, try making one yourself and post it in the comments. I'd love to see everyone's shows!

New Albums Revealed

2007-09-14T12:53:00.000-05:00

I know I've been promising to show everyone our new sample albums since they first hit our doorstep. Well, here they are! They made their official debut last month at the DC Bridal Expo and we were very pleased with the response they got.

We are working with two amazing album companies who can custom create any size and shape album we design! Plus they have lots of cover options. They offer a huge variety of leathers, including suedes, custom glass tiles, photo insets, and my favorite - a sweet selection of metals. Below is a photo of our two albums together. The one in front is 14"x 11" with a natural suede covering. The one in back is 10"x 20" with a black leather spine and Titania metal cover.

Like our first Parent Album that we featured, these albums are Flush Mount. This means that the album pages are mounted on to thin yet firm boards. This protects your pages from warping over time thus extending the life of your album. It's such a brilliant idea!

Our albums are included in several of our Wedding Collections or they can be ordered anytime through our A La Carte items. Email me if you would like more information on pricing and options for your own custom album. If you are interested in viewing our Wedding Albums in person (which I highly recommend ^_^) please use our website's contact form or call us at 1.410.818.6748 to schedule your consultation. Thanks for stopping by! ~Cheers

Tagged! Part 2

2007-09-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

It took me forever to get this done but here it is - 8 things about me.

I love pet fish. My dream home would have an aquarium-sized fish tank.
I was in a drama group for a few years in college. I fainted once when I sat up too fast to say my line.
Me and my friends in high school made a short movie called Attack of the Killer Roadkill. It was filmed at the Sleepy Hollow Campground.
I fell off of a 20ft tall slide when I was little and fractured my skull.
I lived in Alaska for a year when I was 4.
My favoritae book series is The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb.
My middle name is Dusk.
I have an Associate Degree in Game Design and Development.

Tagged! Part 1

2007-08-28T06:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered about what random facts you didn't know about Jeremy and I? Well wonder no more! Yesterday a blog comment appeared that said we had been "tagged". I was like, "Tagged? Tagged! All right! Jeremy we're tagged!" Let me explain. There is this phenomenon going around the photography worlds' blogs where photographers tag each other. When you're tagged, you have to give 8 facts about yourself that your blog readers probably wouldn't know about you - anything at all. It could be like, I lost my first tooth on the crazy wet and wild slide in my backyard while whistling La Bamba. (You can see I've thought this out before.) I saw some great people get tagged over the last month and so I thought it'd be awesome to be tagged. But I wasn't sure how the chain would get over to our side of the web. (I watch a lot of Californian photographers blogs). I guess they've decided to make the continental journey because low and behold, a Tag! hehe Thanks Jen. ^_^ Check out her fun blog at www.jlowephotos.com/blog.

So first, we are supposed to display the rules…

1. Post these rules before you give the facts.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 peoples, list their name and link to their page
4. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they’ve been tagged!

Since Jeremy and I were both named in the "tagging", I thought it would only be fair if we each gave 8 random facts about us. We'll try not to make this a marathon blog. :)

Heather's (8) Fun Facts:
(1). When I was very young, I got to meet Ms. Kathleen Turner on the movie set of "Peggy Sue Got Married". My family's 1956 Studebaker President was going to be used in the movie (whose seen was later taken out). But it still allowed me to talk to Ms. Turner in her trailer and sit on her lap. I don't actually remember much of it but I do remember her lap. lol... Oh I also remember almost falling out of the car as it was pulling out of the parking lot. The door swung open and my body dipped out, but my seatbelt (lap-style only) caught me and my dad pulled me back in.

(2). Growing up as a big Disney fan in a Disney family, my dad taught me to speak in a Mickey Mouse voice. But I can only say three words, " Look fellas - Beans!" This is a quote from the Mickey short, "Mickey and the Beanstalk" which I watched forever trying to get the voice down. I'm actually quite proud of it. Just give me a few tries before the real Mickey comes out. :D

(3). I am a Coloratura Soprano with a high and low range. From my late teen years through college, I trained to become an opera singer. I was actually double-majoring in vocal performance and photography in college, but it was during that time that photography really won me over.

(4.) When I was 4, I got the brilliant notion that instead of walking around a bookcase I should instead climb over it! I figured it would be faster. I think I got up to the third shelf before my weight unbalanced the bookcase and I along with it both fell backwards. I remember falling and then an adult holding back the bookcase from my leg. I didn't break any bones but my leg sure did ache for a while. I haven't climbed in bookcases since, but I do sometimes get the urge the break out of the rut and do things differently.

(5.) I love baking and creating sweets! But I rarely eat them. I'm known for my chocolate chip cookies and peppermint fudge crunch brownies. I'm also known for some terribly awful attempts at unusual concoctions that will not be named here. Poor Jeremy :) But that doesn't stop me from dreaming up new and yummy recipes to try out and give to everyone I know.

(6.) In eighth grade, I was both class president and leader of our school's cheer squad. We wore big white t-shirts that covered our thighs and bold blue leggings than went down to our ankles (school rules). We couldn't perform any type of hip action in our routines, only arm movements and marching-like leg action. But we were pioneering the first ever cheer squad at school. So we marched and arm-rotated like crazy to Wilson Phillips!

(7.) I am a gamer. I am also married to a gamer. My very first game that I ever beat was Disney's Ducktales on the NES. Since then, I have been known to play everything from Pokemon to Final Fantasy 8-12 to World of Warcraft and many others in between. I currently love Nintendo's Wii (super fun) and am getting a bit of a "Wii arm" :)

(8.) I'm a California girl. I was born and raised in the north right across the mountains from Napa Valley. I left there to live on the east coast when I was 7 but returned every summer there after. It rejuvenates me and keeps me grounded in a feeling you can only get when you know you've come home. I attribute much of my creativity in my photography to the people and places who inspired me as a little girl growing up in the tall golden grasses of the Napa Valley hillside. (Did I mention that Jeremy's a Northern California baby too? Good things come from California! :)

Wow this got a little long. We're going to have to make this a two-part entry! Sweet! While we wait for Jeremy to get his blog facts up, go enjoy our 8 top picks for cool photography blogs.

Our Super 8 Picks:
Jose Villa - Jose is an amazing photographer. We chose him to shoot our wedding and the images we got from that day are absolutely gorgeous. He's based in Southern California and he's built a reputation with the entertainment and Hollywood insiders there for his exclusive use of film in a digital world. If you haven't seen his work, please check him out.

Liana Lehman - We got to meet Liana at this year's WPPI convention. She's devoted herself to helping photographers be the best they can be in their businesses and in their photography. Her blog always has fun stories and tips to read plus she has great slide shows to keep you inspired. And who wouldn't love to read a blog with 'Bananas' in the title?

Jesh De Rox - Jesh is a philosopher, photographer, song writer and a really cool guy. He's far up north in Canada so I'm not sure how many people know about him. His real and genuine approach towards his couples inspired us to do the same. We definitely recommend checking him out! His work speaks for itself.

Anna Kuperberg - I stumbled upon Anna's work early this year. She is awesome! Another artist who is also a photographer, her work is gentle, fun and sincerely from her heart. Hers is definitely a style I can identify with. I'd love to be able to meet with her someday. She's also a dog fan and likes to include them in her weddings and portraits. If you're a pet lover and getting married, look her up!

Gene Higa - Destination Wedding Photographer Extraordinare! Another great guy we met at the WPPI. He's full of crazy energy that is infectious to everyone he meets. This is the guy you'd want to have around when you're spending 6 days in Thailand before your wedding. He's right there with you, doing all kinds of crazy things to get the shot. And he gets gorgeous shots! He's also gives back to the photography community and that makes him one awesome guy in our book!

Anne Ruthmann - This girl is a Midwest photographer based in Indiana. Her blog is full of awesome pics, great tidbits to read, and everything that makes Anne - Anne. Plus she has a scrolling chat box that she always replies to. ^_^ Another inspiring artist to keep an eye on.

Don't Box Me In! - OK this isn't exactly one person's blog. But I have found it to be so motivating to read. It showcases lots of super-talented photographers from all over the web and asks them tons of questions we're all dying to know. All photographers should read this blog. Plus brides-to-be can get some great advice for choosing a wedding photographer and what questions they should ask when they go to an interview. I believe a knowledgeable bride is a happy bride.

Jen and a few others have already tagged The Image is Found (i.e. Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser) but they are just too cool not to be mentioned! AMAZING photography from this husband + wife team and an AMAZING little girl named Gracie livens this blog up. It's a daily read as all kinds of things pop up on here: book recommendations, movies, the iphone, weddings, portraits, road trips, Gracie's newest TV show fav or best costume idea. This is one awesome family that just also happens to be one of the best photography teams anywhere! We can't wait to attend their next workshop. Please come out the east coast!

~Cheers!

Best Belated Birthday Blog (b)-Ever!

2007-08-23T08:07:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the birthday of someone I love, respect and admire. And someone who can be quite trying at times but is still willing to take out the trash in the rain. Yuckie! Yep, its my hubby Jeremy! Love yas! We got to take some time off yesterday to enjoy it. And despite his not being one to really celebrate birthdays, we still managed to have some fun!

Early that morning, I decided that he should have a birthday candle in everything he ate! So I started off the day with my super yummy cinnamon streusel birthday muffins.

But he woke up before I got them on a plate. I quickly stuck a candle into one and presented it to him. Well, the morel of the story is don't let a candle sit too long in a fresh-from-the-oven muffin or all the wax melts off of the candle and into the yummy muffin. (end of morel) (begin punchline) ...And that's how his birthday muffin became a holey one! :) (wakka~wakka~wakka) At least we got a pretty picture before the demolition.

The rest of the days' meals didn't really afford the use of candles, thus dashing my wonderful candle-filled birthday scheme: traditional birthday hash browns - too flat, chili - too soupy, and a super-frozen snickers ice cream cake - too hard! (He's not one for dry cake or gobs of frosting hence the genius idea of an ice cream cake was born) Now if only it wasn't such a terror to cut into. Maybe the candle could have been hammered into it's thick, chocolaty shell... but it probably wouldn't have been too good for the candle. At least he got one candle for the day. May he just wants to pretend he's turning one. lol

So, here's to my Jeremy! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May you have many more filled with dancing squirrels and guitar-rocking! :)

Great Bridal Expo Wrap-Up

2007-08-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

We had such a great time at this weekend's Great Bridal Expo in DC. It was so much fun meeting with so many couples and getting to talk with them. I get so inspired when I get to hang out with cool, fun people and there were a bunch of them there. I was surprised at how many grooms-to-be made it out there. But they were all great sports! :)

We also got to show our new canvas gallery wrap and some really hot albums. I tell ya, metal is so cool for an album cover! I'll be posting pics of them in a later post because you've really got to see these. But for now, I wanted to put up a little collage I made of our day there.

Note: these were shot with our mini point-and-shoot. It's super-cute but not exactly picture-perfect quality.

Thanks again to everyone who visited us at our booth and best wishes for your upcoming weddings! If you'd like more information about us, collection details or have any questions we didn't get to answer, please feel free to email us on our website's contact form or call us at 410.818.6748. ~Cheers!

The Great Bridal Expo

2007-08-15T06:31:00.000-05:00

I wanted to be sure to give everyone a heads up about a cool event happening this weekend. This Sunday - August 19th - Jeremy and I will be attending The Great Bridal Expo in Washington D.C. If you're in the area, come on down to the Renaissance hotel and say hello. And while you're there, check out our new sample albums. We'll also be giving away a really cool product that is new for our clients this year. Click on the pretty star below to visit the show's main website and learn more. See you there!

Jo + Justynn's Wedding

2007-08-13T13:57:00.000-05:00

"As soon as I saw her come out of the room with the dress on, I screamed, 'Jo'!" Her mother laughed as she told the story to those standing in the room. Jo's eyes sparkled brightly as she giggled. "When I saw her cry, I knew this was the dress for me." Jo sat down on the bed beside her mother, admiring the beautiful gown. They held each others hand tightly. You could see by the smiles on their faces just how happy and excited they were for the day ahead. It was time for Joanna - her daughter, the youngest and last child in the Prouty family, to become a bride.

Jo and Justynn's afternoon wedding took place in their neighbor's garden. A gorgeous blue sky stretched out over the guests heads as Justynn's grandfather offered a prayer of thanks and blessing for the young couple's union.

We love being able to shoot creative portraits with our couples. It's so nice to be able to take time in the middle of the wedding day and just have the couple be alone together (with their photographers that is ^_~). It's usually the first time they've been alone since becoming husband and wife and its a real treat to document that moment. We also get to have some fun!

Justynn was a real gentleman. He carried his new bride down the sidewalk from their ceremony site to Jo's parent's house, two doors away.

To Jo + Justynn, we wish we were with you now in Puerto Rico! lol Seriously, we were so glad that we ended up photographing your wedding. I can't say that I've ever met such a calm bride as you Jo! You were cool-headed and stress-free all day long, even when we marched you through the alfalfa field. May that calm and carefree spirit carry you through your lives together. And Justynn... you keep an eye out for all the bugs! :)

Jo + Justynn's Rehearsal

2007-08-09T22:18:00.000-05:00

Monday night, we received a call about a wedding this Friday. Through the love and support of their wonderful family, we got the go ahead for plane tickets and a quick romp back up to Ithaca, MI. We had the privilege to shoot Becca & Brendan's wedding here in June. Now it is her sister Joanna's turn to marry her man Justynn. It's so awesome to be welcomed back into the family! ^_^

Since everything happened so fast and in a rather sneaky fashion, we weren't quite sure if we'd be a surprise gift to the couple. Just in case, we were very hush-hush about it and didn't even disclose it here, just in case Jo was reading. :)

Well, this afternoon we attended their rehearsal dinner - pizza a la poolside - followed by the ever delightful rehearsal. We can't wait for their wedding tomorrow. Looking at what we've already seen today, only good things will follow. Enjoy!

warning: color splash!

2007-08-08T16:10:00.000-05:00

I've really been liking the new blog look! It's so bright and lite and cheery! Me thinks the delightfulness has begun to spread into our website. ^_^ It's a great thing, except when your browser doesn't register the changes right away. If you are noticing some strangeness occurring when loading our site, don't worry! It's not gremlins. Please forgive the mess while we re-construct the site... live. It should be up and running and sparkley by tommorow. Thanks for being patient with us. And stay tuned for the upcoming post, "Where are they now?" Cheers!

Deja Vu?

2007-08-07T07:32:00.000-05:00

We will be out of the office beginning today, August 7 through Monday August 13. You can still reach us by phone and through our website's contact form. We just might take a little longer to get back to you. More will be explained about our sudden disappearance in a later post. :) Oh, the suspense!

Summer Makeover

2007-08-04T16:01:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, the weekend has arrived! It's a nice break from a long work week. Jeremy and I have been busy gearing up for the DC bridal show happening this month - August 19th. I'm really excited about the new album designs I've created for the show and I can't wait to share them! I might even be tempted to post one or two pages up on here... hehe ^_^ I've also been contemplating a new look for the blog. With such a beautiful and sunny summer, our dark black was feeling rather ...well, dark. So I decided to give it a little summer makeover! What do you think? Jeremy is always teasing me that I love bright colors and why don't I use more of them. Well, here they are - on a calming, clean white palette. Perfect balance, eh?

Today on our day of rest, we decided to go see the new Simpson's movie. I wasn't too sure about it. A Simpson's episode for 1 1/2 hours? Well... I was wrong. Actually, pleasantly surprised. I was already a fan of the show, just not as of these last episodes. The movie, which I thought would feel drawn out, actually flowed very well. It was a Simpson's episode but done... really well! (Have I mentioned it was a really well-done movie? lol) The Simpson humor was there - Homer strangling Bart jokes, physical comedy performed by Mr. Simpson himself in very painful ways, inside jokes about past episodes - event a decent story to pull it all together. Oh and tons of parodies! They were hilarious! I'm so glad I went out and saw it. Just what I needed. Thanks Jeremy! It's so nice to find unexpected joys in your day. Even if you have to be nudged into them. :)

Jeremy was kind enough to "simpsonize" us to mark the movie debut. And he even placed us on our favorite walking path. awe!

This is Sparta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(aaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!)

2007-07-31T14:21:00.000-05:00

I'd like to dedicate today's blog to the awesome movie "300" - which just so happens to be hitting store shelves today. (plugged! lol) It is also sitting on our shelf now too! :) This movie is major eye candy, inspiration, and a veritable feast for all of you action junkies out there. I personally wouldn't describe myself as a "junkie". However, I do love a good action-packed thrill ride - when the mood strikes. (Can you tell I love amusement park rides too?) Of course, the real draw of the 300 for me is the cinema - the amazing style of visual storytelling that only a handful of movies truly succeed in these days. I dare say that this movie has compelled itself so completely into its own genre of movie. The scenes appear as living paintings and the action is unfurled with great gusto and trumpeting! Aw-HooH! (whoo! sudden surge of heroic spartan inspiration there... hehe) Since the movie was completely filmed on green scene, the creators of the 300 had complete freedom to express Frank Miller's (guru of comics) brutal and still strangely beautiful vision of the ancient Spartans. There are moments in this story that just take your breath away or open your mind to new ways of seeing the world.

Now, I admit this isn't all sunshine and shiny "Ab-men". There is a lot of blood and gore and many unpleasant things. It is an action movie based on an incredible yet gruesome battle. But the gore never struck me as overwhelming or in excess. I am a squeamish one - ask Jeremy. :) You won't find me going to any horror movies (or going on really, really scary rides or even haunted houses). And yet I'm totally enthralled with this movie! The 300's tactful use of slow-motion (lots... and lots... of slow motion) makes the battle scenes tolerable and very, very heroic. So instead of looking away, I'm leaning forward and cheering Leonidas on! (Darn it, I want a shield! lol) Oh and I must mention the queen of Sparta character. She is one of the strongest female roles I have ever seen portrayed in a movie! I will not say much more than that because I don't want to spoil just how awesome she is. But when you see her in this you will be cheering her on too!

As a lover of visual beauty, compelling characterization, and a total indulger of all things eye candy, I recommend the 300 to you!

New Album In!

2007-07-13T19:53:00.000-05:00

Friday the 13th had us pretty busy today but in a good way. We're excited about the surge of interest being shown in our photography. And we are grateful to all of you who have passed along your encouraging comments and best wishes. (By the way, if you have sent me an email and haven't received a reply yet, you will be getting one by this evening.)

A surprise package came for us in the mail today, affording us some excitement and glee. It was our new sample wedding album! It's such a cute little book! This is our 5x5 parent display album. Our larger albums can be ordered in the same style and cover - many color options too! Our bigger ones will be arriving soon. But I just couldn't resist taking a few quick pics of this little darling. Enjoy!

Website Goes Live!

2007-07-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

That's right folks! We have just gone L-I-V-E! The new site is officially up and running. So head on over and take it for a spin. Just to clarify, from now on when you type in our address you will be taken to our website splash page and not our blog. However, we have included a blog link both on our splash page and on our website menu so you can keep up with all of the latest and greatest from Heather Jorgensen Photography!

Best Bag Ever

2007-07-07T19:38:00.001-05:00

Happy 7-7-7 everyone! Has it been a lucky day for you? I know it's been one for me! Today I received my long awaited and highly coveted Shootsac! I first saw them back at the WPPI in March where they debuted. The table was swarmed the whole time so all I got to do was peer from a distance. Then in June, the Shootsac official website opened. I am pleased to say that I was one of the last and lucky few that placed an order before they were completely sold out. Actually, I was only able to secure the bag itself. The Shootsac fabric covers (which are so cute and super handy) were completely gone. I'm still stalking the site to get one when they re-stock! Oh yes, and we do need to get another bag for Jeremy. He was kind enough to let me take the first one. Thanks sweetie!

So what exactly is a Shootsac and why are they harder to secure than an iphone? Well, they maybe the best camera bag I've ever used. As soon as I lifted the bag from its packaging, I was surprised at the weight and quality of the material. The Shootsac is made from the same material as a wet suit for diving. This will be great for insulating my lenses in our cold fall and winter sessions here. Also, this bag can hold all of my equipment I need for a wedding and yet it is still flexible and comfy to wear - not like my current bag which is just a boxy nuisance. That bag is now retired! The really nice thing about the Shootsac is the easy access I have to all my equipment. If you are a photographer reading this or a photography enthusiast, I highly recommend the Shootsac to you! I can't wait to use it at my next shoot. The creator of this bag says it will change the way you shoot. As a great photographer herself, I can tell she knows exactly what we as photographers need - a good bag! Tempted? Here's the website - www.shootsac.com Make sure to get on their mailing list as they are still sold out and will send out an email to you when there are more sacs to ship.

Oh yes, our website is finally complete and awaiting the great switch-flipping! We are hoping that this will take place just after the weekend. We're very excited about how it turned out and can't wait to share it with you. So stay tuned!

Coming Soon

2007-07-01T17:49:00.000-05:00

We have been working on our website for the past month and are nearly ready for it to go live. We are projecting an opening date of sometime around or just after the upcoming holiday. Slightly cryptic? Perhaps. A little vague? You better believe it! It's always those tiny bugs you never saw coming that sink your perfect time line. But as soon as the site does open, we will make the announcement right here. Also, once this happens, www.heatherjorgensen.com will direct you to a splash page where you can choose to enter the new site or our current blog. Either way, you'll know when we flip the switch. Keep checking back over the holiday. You never know when we'll open early.

In the meantime, I feel we are in need of posting another picture. Don't worry, Becca and Brendan. Your wait is almost over! This one didn't make it into the original highlights post. However, I still think it deserves a little fanfare.

The Cross Wedding

2007-06-26T12:21:00.000-05:00

"I made this for you." Becca turned to see her oldest niece and flower girl hold up a large cardboard sign. On its cover, the girl had drawn a picture of Becca wearing a crown and veil in bright pink and yellow marker. Below it she had written, 'Happy Wedding'. Her niece quickly turned the drawing over to reveal her special message on the other side, 'Love you both'. As Becca beamed a tearful smile and hugged her niece close, all of the bridesmaids in the room let out a resounding awe! What a perfect way to begin a wedding day.

Becca's second visitor came bearing a box of Backgammon. Becca's grandmother told me that she had taught her granddaughter everything she knew about playing the game. Apparently, Becca was a star pupil as her grandmother kept commenting throughout their match that she had taught her a little too well. I love the moments we capture as the couple prepares for their wedding. This is the time where the anticipation begins to build. All of the details begin to come together to create their special moment in time.

It is a tradition for the groom's family to give these pens to the couple on the day of their wedding.

Their ceremony took place in the backyard of Becca's childhood home. The two pledged themselves to one another with the love and support of their friends and family.

Their parents provided sand for Becca and Brendan's sand-blending ceremony from as far away as South Africa. Jeremy and I had such a fun time photographing your wedding. We wish you two much love and happiness in your new life together. Oh, and may you always remain... forever young. That one's for you guys!

With Love From Michigan

2007-06-18T08:13:00.000-05:00

Well we are heading back today after shooting Becca and Brendan's wedding. It was a very personal ceremony attended by their close family and friends. We are so privileged to have been a part of such an intimate and emotion-filled day. We will be posting their wedding highlights once we return to Maryland. But we couldn't resist sharing this one image.

Becca and Brendan's "Day Before" Shoot

2007-06-16T21:42:00.001-05:00

Since we were here a few days before the wedding, we all decided to have a "day before" shoot. I love the images we got. Even in the strong heat of a Michigan summer, these two were awesome! Thanks for a rocking shoot! Just check these out!

Jeremy and I are totally looking forward to your wedding tomorrow! See you at 7am!

Becca and Brendan's Rehersal

2007-06-16T08:27:00.001-05:00

We have been enjoying Becca and Brendan's wonderful pre-wedding festivities here for the last two days. Everyone has been enjoying the warm, sunny weather and of course, we've brought our cameras to document it all. Here are some highlights from yesterday's rehearsal.

Stay tuned for more!

Michigan or Bust!

2007-06-12T17:52:00.001-05:00

Jeremy here! We are gearing up to head out to the great state of Michigan to photograph a wonderful wedding this weekend. It's going to be a wild five-day adventure. We are embarking on our journey this Thursday and returning Monday. This means we'll be out of reach from June 14th to June 18th. Stay tuned as we post snip-its of our travel adventures along the way. When we get back, we will be sharing the event with everyone here.

Welcome to the New Blog

2007-06-12T14:44:00.000-05:00

Hi, my name is Heather Jorgensen. My husband Jeremy and I make up the team behind Heather Jorgensen Photography. We are wedding photographers based in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area though our clients can be found all across the country. We love what we do and we bring that passion to our clients images.

We will be launching our new website within the next few months. In the meantime, we are excited to start this blog which will serve as our online diary of just about everything we do. Current and prospective clients can see where we are and what we're shooting. We will be posting recent weddings and projects along with our unique personal photos from our travels. So keep checking back to find out what's happening. If you see anything you like, please feel free to leave us a comment! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by...enjoy!