I just returned from my first 4 days off since last year. I went up to our cabin in the most remote part of PA. They had 31 straight days of rain. So, jumping back into the wedding saddle, I thought I would post this very sunny photograph that I took of Renata and Mark last week behind the Art Museum. The happy couple is waving to their adoring bridal group waiting below and sipping on "stuff"! Yes Virginia....... there is sun!
Sometimes I post wedding photographs that I deem "different". I always tell my brides to look beyond. Always with a confused look, they agree but tend to choose the parent pleaser photographs. For example, here is a photograph I took in New York two months ago. The groom was busy getting his photo taken with family. The bride Nikki wanted to take a sneak peak at her reception room. As she peaked through the white drapery, she looked amazing in her light cream colored dress. A winner in my book!
After much hard work, my daughter Ashley earned her MASTERS degree from Gwynedd-Mercy College! She has been an elementary teacher now for 4 years after getting her teaching degree from Albright College. She also is dual certified in Special Education and Political Science! Whew! I have seen her in action with her class and it warms my heart to someone who loves their job as much as she does. As parents, we are doing the happy dance! The photos below are of my daughter and two very happy parents!
Ashley and Donna
A very proud dad Dan, Ashley and well...... me!
You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Well, I think who ever came up with that saying knew that applied to me! I have had the same phone now for five years. A Palm Treo 650. I did not get my email on it because I knew it would become obsessed with checking it. My first Treo (also a 650) lasted two years and then while putting on my makeup one cold morning by accident, I dropped it into my coffee. It powered down just as quickly as I retrieved it out of my Maxwell House. I was devistated! Thankfully though, a collegue had an old one that he gave me. Off to the Verizon store I marched where they tried to talk me into the Treo 700. But oh noooooo! Hook a sister up to the old 650! Happy Dance!
Three more years passed and it worked fine until last week. It just froze. I tried everything to get her to come back to me. But, she was dead. Gone, ka-put!
So, off I go to the dreaded Verizon store where it strongly resembles the scene in the movie Bettlejuice. Everyone waiting around for their name to be called while watching the only two reps on the floor work their magic. Finally, my turn came and the rep talked me into the Blackberry Storm. Fancy Schmancy touch phone. I knew going in that I wasn't interested in that phone, but was open to what the rep said. I secretly looked around the store for the Palm's but they had only one and it was so small, I could hardly see the letters!
Mr. Cute Rep said that the problems arising from the Blackberry Storm was consumer related and not phone related. Not to be one of those consumer's and a bit knowledgeable with computers, I stepped to the plate. Of course I got the cool accessories to go with it!
That was on Saturday. On Monday, I was at the Verizon store, where Mr. Cute Rep had the day off. I returned the Storm and got the Blackberry 8830. The nice young sales clerk gave me a blank look and said, "You know we offer classes on how to use the Storm." Classes on how to use a phone? I hated it. I tried to figure it out. I tried to work with it. But it didn't like me. I guess I was one of "those consumers".
So, I now have the Blackberry 8830 AND HAVE EMAIL.
As I write this blog, someone has just emailed me at 11:08p.m. I am so tempted to look over at the end table to see who it is. I knew I would be addicted! I need a class for email addition not Blackberry usage!
I find myself checking my email at meetings, sitting at a red light, walking the dogs, and even yesterday, riding my bike! Yes, this is not good. I am out of control and it has only been a week!
Suggestions are welcome. But please don't email me late at night. I don't want to be tempted!
The one thing that I love about photographing children is seeing them grow up. Tara was just 4 years old when I first photographed her. Her stunning red hair and those beautiful eyes stopped me dead in my tracks. Now, 4 years later, parents Sandy and Jay rang me up again to document a special time in her life's journey. I truly love this family! Seeing Tara in her Holy Communion dress took my breath away! I posted two portraits from her session along with her 4 year old photograph! This girl is a knockout!
Tara at 8!
Tara at 4 years old.
Absolutely beautiful......
Friends:
All too often we accept things that we feel we cannot change. We settle for things because it is "easier". In the past five years, I have seen an outpoor of complaints from high school seniors wanting better. After 12 years of hard work, their senior portraits are to reflect personality, depth and warmth about who they are. Unfortunately, being the 428th student photographed in a day, the opportunity to give one's just due doesn't seem to occur!
For that reason, high school senior portraiture is a large part of my business. I know these young men and women just "get" my style. Gone are the stiff formal cap and gown. In it's place are warm genuine portraits of seniors about to embark on their next adventure. So, my hats off to these seniors who choose not to go through life accepting the easiest route out. Those who want something better. Those who choose to look for something better for themselves. Bravo!
Here is high school senior Olivia Legg. I have no doubt this student will make a difference!
Hey Friends!
Memorial Day has finally arrived! Summer! I am so ready this year. Spring this year was a disappointment with what seemed like weeks of rain. So, with that said, it is time to announce the Beach Portrait Session Special! Yes, indeed, I have been getting requests as to when I was going to announce it. Why? Because I only take ten sessions spread throughout the summer. So, it is first come/first serve. Lots of fun are in store on the Jersey beach as I give you my undivided attention for an evening under the setting sun!
Here is the scoop! Total cost: $525 What you get? A professional portrait session by well.... me! Included in this is a $300 credit towards prints! This special price is only good until June 15th. If you book by June 1st, you will also get 25 4 x 8 slim line holiday cards!
Your session must be paid in full when you book in order to get this great special!
Call the studio now! 215.968.5220. Don't wait. Sessions book up quickly!
Okay, so I lost my momentum! So sorry! My loyal followers have been emailing me asking me what's up. Frankly, I just have been doing so many other things that I just haven't had time to blog. I know, not much of an excuse to those who follow. When I moved the studio from Washington Crossing in December, I sort of patch worked a lot of things until the winter months. Things like marketing pieces, new stationary, new business cards, etc. That sort of stuff sucks the life out of the studio and me! But I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I was just playing catch up!
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of photographing the March of Dimes "Bucks County March for Babies". www.marchofdimes.com/pennsylvania
For some odd reason, spring checked out and summer had squeezed it's way in. The temp at 8:00 a.m. was pushing 80 degrees. The walk was a 6 mile main route with a 3 mile family walk as well. Attendance was great and everyone was excited despite the tremendous heat wave.
Some fun shots are below!
Everyone loves balloons!
Teams from small to large! Bucks County Professional Network
First Federal of Bucks County. A large participation from this group!
This group "La Famiglia de Amelia" gets my vote on the shirts!
Enthusiastic walkers!
I recently had the opportunity to photograph two little munchkins from daughter's boyfriend's side of the family. (That was a mouthfull!) David is four years old and Christina will be two. I just had to post this one because it just shows the love this little boy has for his younger sister.
Don't you just want to bottle this stuff?
d
Hey Friends!
In every business there are peak times and their are times when you can take a breather. Usually, in my business, that time is January through February. People are tucked into their warm homes waiting for the Robins to arrive. I sort of feel like wishing that spring would arrive right around February 15th. Right about that time I have had it with the cold blue days of winter. This year, we have been busier than normal which is good! I tend to work better when under pressure.
So, of course with great anticipation AGAIN, I headed off to the Philadelphia Flower Show. We went the day after the big snow storm which may have been a mistake. Thinking it would be best to arrive later in the afternoon, I was surprised to see parking was virtually non existent. As we ventured inside, the first thing I noticed was tons of senior citizens sitting in chairs 4 deep around the paremeter of the flower show. I guess they were waiting for their bus or just glad to be off their feet. I am assuming their bus was cancelled the day before because of the snow. The temp outside was a mere 20 degrees so the warmth and wonderful smell of the inside was comforting.
I guess I expect too much. Perhaps since I have been going to the Flower Show for about 30 years now, I have seen it at the old convention center where more local nurseries participated. A place where your mind could wonder if someday, if your ship came in, you could have a garden with a cute water wheel or colored pavers. Now, of course, those little scenes are gone and we now have "themes". This year was "Italy". My imagination didn't run wild as I looked beautiful landscapes. Perhaps I couldn't visualize a 40 foot bridge in my back yard. So, I managed to squeeze may way through one silver haired women and her grumpy husband carrying his wife's handbag to snap a photo. I played with it a bit on my computer to make more of a "card" instead of a just a photograph.
There's always next year!
donna
