Matt Hall Photography

I have moved!!!

2010-05-04T20:15:00.004-04:00

I have moved!! Yep, I have packed up my blog and relocated it to Matt Hall Photo. It is all new and full of great features. Check it out and don't forget to reset your RSS feed to get all the updated blog posts from the new location.

Josh and Breanna: Wedding

2010-01-06T09:46:00.004-05:00

Josh and Breanna have a special place in my heart and they are one of the most inspiring couples I have worked with. They come from such a wonderful community of friends and family that I am proud to call my own. The wedding was put together in a two-month time frame and was held at my own church, Fellowship Missionary Church, on the southeast side of Fort Wayne. With the impact Josh and Breanna have had on the church’s community it seemed only fitting to see people who have been touched by Josh and Breanna’s story to come along side them to help make their wedding day a success.

The reception was held at the beautiful Arts United Center in downtown Fort Wayne. This building is home to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic among many other talented performing artists that Fort Wayne has to offer. With a blend of brick, concrete and oak set as the backdrop to the reception the evening was just as beautiful as the building it was held in. I don’t ever recall seeing a wedding with so many of the guests becoming so involved in the reception to make sure the evening went smoothly. The entire reception was done by youth at Fellowship Missionary Church. They did the set up and teardown and even served the food all with a servant’s heart. They are such amazing people!

Josh and Breanna, the story of your love for each other inspires me. God has brought the two of you together in a wonderful way and I am amazed to see how He brought a community of friends and family together to make your wedding day as magical as it was intended to be. Thank you for such a wonderful time. Congratulations on your marriage!

Dance like no one is watching

2009-12-23T21:02:00.005-05:00

Last weekend I captured a wedding that grounded me on so many levels. I have learned so much from this couple and their story has truly touched my life. As I was processing some of the images I ran across this image that reminds me why I love wedding photography so much.

Planning a wedding takes so long, except for this one but more on that later. When the wedding day finally arrives it quickly becomes a blur from all the big important stuff having to fall into place to all of the people coming to witness the amazing union. The moment captured below is a great example of how we can still connect with the ones that mean so much to us in the midst of all the noise around us. It is as if they are dancing like no one is watching.

What are you doing this Christmas to connect on a deeper level with the people that mean so much to you?

Thankfulness

2009-11-26T22:10:00.009-05:00

Because today is the day of giving thanks I wanted to say a big thanks to all of my clients who so generously give me the chance live out my passions and dreams. Without the encouragement you have given me I would not be the person I am today.

Today is also our little Ainsley’s first Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving around our house the past five years has been loaded with family packed into our home. With nearly 15 people I quickly run out of room to stack them so most choose the floor to sleep on. With all of the noise, crowdedness, and lots of dishes I found myself enjoying those few days a year when everyone comes over to my house for food and fun.

This year nobody came over. It was a slow and quiet day with just the three of us. We did spend a few hours over at my brother-in-laws house but most of the day was spent with my new three-person family. It was a welcome change of pace and a day full of thanksgiving for me as I am surrounded by the two people that mean the world to me.

Here are a few shots of my little Thanksgiving.

The day started off by mom doing a little bit of “Pre-Black Friday” shopping. She got up at 4:30 to snag this cool noisemaker of a table for Ainsley at half price. By the time Ainsley woke up we had it set up for her to begin the play of a new toy.

Because this was Ainsley’s first Thanksgiving Sarah and I have been doing a lot of talking about traditions. Today we started our first Thanksgiving tradition of drawing turkeys by tracing our hands on construction paper. It was obviously difficult for a 6 ½ month old to hold her hand still but we made it through it. Once we finished coloring each of us wrote a few things we are thankful for this year. The goal is to do this every year and write down five things we are thankful for. We will move this to small index cards in the future. It will be fun to read through all of them and see how our kids change their priorities over the years.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Mark and Kathy's Family

2009-11-24T21:35:00.006-05:00

My latest family photo session was one of my most unique family sessions. In what is considered a very rare occasion, Baby Ainsley made a special guest appearance at my photo session. She came along with Sarah and I to capture my brother-in-law and sister-in-laws family and did a fantastic job at entertaining them. She held up great even with the cooler weather in which she hardly complained.

Mark and Kathy are our closest geographically located family. Most of my family is either in St. Louis or the great state of Texas. Having them near by has given us a chance to watch their three children grow up. It was a joy hanging out downtown with them and I look forward to our big Thanksgiving dinner over at their house this year!

Caroline's 6 Months: Part 2

2009-10-26T20:43:00.006-04:00

Caroline and her family have become special to Sarah and I. We have been meeting up with them during Caroline’s first year of life to capture her continuous changes. Our sessions are always full of sharing stories and comparing notes as new parents. Being new parents ourselves we completely understand how fast changes occur.

This session we enjoyed the beautiful fall and took Caroline outside. As you can see sweet hats complement little girls like icing on an already perfect cake. I am so excited for Caroline’s parents and continue to be amazed at how fast our children grow.

Caroline=6 Months!!!

2009-10-05T13:55:00.005-04:00

Just last week I took my family to our very first family picture session. We followed Betsy King around as she guided and directed us through our photo shoot. I was amazed at all of the excitement and anxiousness I felt after the session was over. I can't wait to see my families pictures!!!

A few days later Sarah and I headed back to Quinn and Jody's home to shoot Caroline's 6 month photo session. I now know what it is like to keep the photographer's blog up on my computer while hitting the refresh key on the hour so I wanted to give a quick sneak peek at Caroline's photo shoot so we can give that refresh key a break.

Gabe + Michelle = Wedding

2009-10-01T20:43:00.011-04:00

With the wedding of Gabe and Michelle, my wedding season has ended but not without inspiring me. I always intend to inspire others but I often find myself as the inspired one. Working with my clients gives me insight to their lives and their stories.

Everyone has a story and Gabe and Michelle are no different. Gabe and Michelle joined hearts in the beautiful Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana. On the staircase of the historic showroom floor family and friends witnessed the joining of their families.

I had a great year watching the weddings of beautiful couples such as Gabe and Michelle and I am thankful for the inspiration they bring me. I still have one more wedding story to blog about so check back to see Eric and Leah's beautiful Ohio wedding.

Tim + Erica = Wedding

2009-08-18T21:55:00.016-04:00

I have been excited to shoot Tim and Erica’s wedding for almost a year now. When Erica first called me she told me how she was a guest at the beautiful Curtis and Amanda's wedding early last year. She said she just had to have us shoot her wedding!

After a light morning rain, the humidity came out to create a sticky afternoon for a beautiful wedding in Syracuse Indiana. The ceremony was romantic as the several hundred candles lit the sanctuary. After quick send off, we took Tim and Erica to an amazing field of yellow daisies right off of Highway 13! We couldn’t have asked for a better time and location to take our now freshly married couple.

Once we arrived to the reception, we quickly found out that a transformer blew outside the building causing the power to go out. Do you recall I mentioned the day was hot and sticky?! Tim and Erica inspired me. They went into a dark reception with the outlook that nothing can change the fact that they are married and they will always have each other. The evening continued as the electric company worked outside to restore power which never really stayed on that night. At the end of the evening Tim and Erica where still married and loving every minute of it.

Thanks so much Tim and Erica! You guys have reminded me how love can pierce through any darkness. Congratulations!!!

The Felger Family

2009-07-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Taking family pictures are a fun treat for us when we have the chance to do them. So when the Felger family contacted us to see if we would take their family pictures we gladly accepted. This family session included multiple generations headed up by two warm-hearted parents. It is awesome to place a family with multiple generations together in a shot and step back to be amazed what two people can start.

Capturing weddings is an amazing thing and it is only the beginning for that couple. We get to be there to see it, but when we get the chance to capture a multi generational family we get be there to see what has happened since their wedding day. What an honor!

Gabe + Michelle = Engagement

2009-07-19T16:33:00.006-04:00

Gabe and Michelle are getting married later this year at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg museum. What a cool place to get married! As for now they are wrapping up the final plans and rockin’ out their engagement session during the golden hour right before sunset. Check out the cool shots we got of Gabe and Michelle!

Eric + Leah = Engagement

2009-06-13T17:10:00.002-04:00

Congratulations!!! Eric and Leah, like Sarah and myself, are high school sweethearts, which in my opinion is awesome! I am thrilled to be the lucky photographer for their special day this August in Van Wert Ohio!

We did their engagement session just outside of Van Wert at Leah’s parent’s farm. The farm was a photographer’s dream complete with a decaying schoolhouse and train tracks. Just as I think it can’t get any better we are lead down to an apple orchard where we finished up the session.

Here are just a few shots of our session with Eric and Leah.

Guy + Linda = Wedding!

2009-05-20T20:56:00.009-04:00

Speechless!
Saturday we had the honor of capturing Guy and Linda’s wedding at their beautiful home in Cromwell Indiana. Guy and Linda created a unique wedding setting that involved all of their children blending both families into one.

After the ceremony at the wooded haven behind the magnificent log home was the reception located inside of the 20,000 square foot pole barn. I really enjoyed working will all of the other wedding vendors at Guy and Linda’s wedding. All of the girl’s hair and make up was done by the talented Mary Kay consultant Angi Higginbotham and Linda Maggert at One Of A Kind Events did an amazing job at coordinating the wedding as well as transforming the pole barn into a beautiful wedding reception. The guest enjoyed live music from Rob Lisak of Green Thirteen Music while they enjoyed a meal from The Eagle’s Nest out of Columbia City. Oh, and who could forget the beautiful cake created by Carolyn Pruden of Elegant Cakes. Carolyn literally built the cake on-site! To finish the evening there was a beautiful fireworks display. It was an amazing event to attend, but an honor to photograph. Thanks again to my talented photography team Karen Fisher and Amanda for helping out at this wedding. You guys rock!

Guy + Linda: Wedding Sneak Peek

2009-05-17T13:41:00.002-04:00

Whew! What a day! After such an amazing wedding event I can’t wait to share some of the images from Guy and Linda’s wedding. For now I wanted to share a shot from the day to give you a taste of what is to come.

Happy Sunday!

Patrick + Elizabeth: Wedding

2009-05-10T14:04:00.005-04:00

The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful for the wedding Patrick and Elizabeth yesterday. Although the wind was strong and chilly in the morning, the afternoon turned out beautifully.

Patrick met Elizabeth while attending Purdue University. They both eventually moved to one of my favorite cities, Dallas! The ceremony was held at Blackhawk Ministries Church followed by another fabulous event put on at the Summit Club downtown Fort Wayne. The view from the 25th floor has always been breathtaking, but now we have Parkview Field to thank for adding another piece to the downtown view.

Because Sarah is officially on maternity leave from wedding photography, I brought in a couple of great photographers to fill her shoes. We had a good friend Amanda who through out the day surprised me with her photography talent. At the reception, we were joined by one of Fort Wayne’s best family portrait photographers, Karen Fisher. Both of these talented photographers will be joining me next weekend for wonderful outdoor wedding just a little north of Fort Wayne.

Linda + Guy: Engagement Part 2

2009-04-15T07:45:00.006-04:00

He owns a dentist practice, she does his marketing and on what was supposed to be a business trip to the Bahamas turned out to be their engagement celebration. A couple of weeks ago we drove up to Pokagon State Park to meet up with Linda and Guy to shoot their engagement/family session. The session included the children who will be part of the wedding party at their parent's May wedding. With all of the seriousness of the wedding planning it was fun to get out and play around as we get to know Linda and Guy. We eagerly await their wedding and are thrilled to be a part of it.

Jody + Quinn: Newborn

2009-04-07T22:53:00.004-04:00

I am so excited that Jody and Quinn have asked us to document Caroline’s first year. Not only do we get to watch this little girl grow and experience the world around her, but we get to watch our relationship with Jody and Quinn grow along with our children. Jody and Quinn have touched our lives and we look forward to our little girl growing up to know them as friends as well.

Congratulations Jody and Quinn!

Sneak Peek: Guy and Linda Engagement

2009-04-05T20:38:00.004-04:00

This afternoon we drove up to Fremont Indiana to do an engagement shoot that included a splash of family to it. During the short hour drive from Fort Wayne, Sarah grabbed her stomach and said “oh, that was a weird feeling”. Ha! Let me tell you, I thought that today was going to have a second “splash” of family! No fear it was a honest false alarm that lasted one whole second.

Guy and Linda are bringing their two families together this May and I can see that this is a perfect blend. Before we show you the whole session, we once again want to tease you with a shot from the day. Keep checking back to meet the whole family including their gentle giant of a dog, Nala.

First Glimpse

2009-04-04T21:23:00.005-04:00

Introducing Caroline! More to come of this beautiful two week old in the coming days. For now here is a teaser from today’s session. Check later to see more of baby Caroline.

Also tomorrow brings us a chance of rain, but that won’t stop us from doing another photo shoot with one of our May brides. Stay tuned.

Jody + Quinn: Maternity Part 2

2009-03-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

As I was going through Jody and Quinn's images this one stood out to me. It is as if we, the world, had a chance to peek into their life and see how joyful they are about their growing family. I am so happy for them!

Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!!!

Jody + Quinn: Maternity

2009-03-15T21:12:00.005-04:00

What a joy it is to be working with Jody and Quinn during this special time of their lives. We first met Jody and Quinn while volunteering at the Father Daughter Banquet nearly a year ago. Jody is in the final stages of her pregnancy just as Sarah is. We shared many of the same stories and laughed our way through the photo session. This will be the first of many photo shoots with Jody and Quinn. We will have the honor of documenting their baby’s first year of life only to create a beautiful leather bound album this time next year.

Jody and Quinn, we can’t wait to watch your little “peanut” grow in during the next
year. Thanks for inviting us to watch!

Belly Photography

2009-02-22T18:38:00.022-05:00

Today was a day of photography play. Sarah has been long overdue for maternity pictures and since her photographer lives so close we decided that today would be a great day to snap a few shots. Below is just a few that stood out to me as a celebration of the new development to our small family. Less than two months left before the big change, but first comes the baby shower next weekend. More on that later, have a great week!

Gadget Awesomeness

2009-02-09T19:20:00.020-05:00

Every once in a while a product comes along that revolutionizes the way we currently do things. The new-to-me wireless SD Card is one of those products. I say new-to-me because somewhere deep in my overloaded brain I recall reading about this product. Eye-Fi has developed a product that works with Wi-Fi Networks to send photos from digital cameras to home networks and on-line websites. As soon as the camera that contains the wireless SD Card comes into the home network it will automatically upload the images on the card to your computer. To make it even cooler you can set it up to automatically upload the images to on-line websites such as Facebook and SmugMug to name a couple. The Eye-Fi is currently only for SD Cards, but when they start making the Compact Flash cards with this technology I can see a new advancement in the professional photography industry. Until then I will have to settle for the $800 Nikon WT-4af Wireless Transmitter.

Oh, and back to my overloaded brain. Eye-Fi has teamed up with Evernote giving me the ability to take a picture of text such as business cards, restaurant receipts, or anything else I want to remember. Evernote has developed recognition software that will read the text off of an image and categorize it so I can retrieve it later. Incredible!

Modern Baby

2009-02-03T12:44:00.008-05:00

I am surprised, astonished, even shocked that my Internet savvy friends find it odd that Sarah and I would create a website solely dedicated to our unborn daughter. Either way the power of Show IT Sites has given us the ability to create, add and recreate any number of websites with ease. Our daughter’s website example now includes images of her baby room, a mom’s journal, and a registry page informing our friends and family where we are registered. I really enjoy taking advantage of all the technology available to us and when our 3-D ultra sound video is complete later this month I put it on her website. This is only the beginning. With the merge of two industries, still photography and videography, our websites will soon include short video clips giving our future brides a look at what is like to have us shoot their wedding.

The personalizing websites don’t stop with our daughter. Imagine what it would be like to have a fully customized website for your wedding. You can inform your friends and family of all the exciting events of your day, link guests to your registries, and show off those beautiful images by Matt Hall Photography! It is just one more way we are helping make your wedding day be an unforgettable day.

***NOTE TO ADD***
If anyone is wanting to follow our Baby's Website please send us an email and will will get you the link to the website. Thanks!

She is a GIRL!!!

2008-12-22T21:24:00.006-05:00

With all the new excitement and growing bellies, Sarah's and mine:) my blog has been lacking. Well I feel it is time to break the silence by sharing our baby girl's first of many pictures. Today being my birthday I did what makes me most happy. I met up with our May bride to go over some details as well as catch up on life. Weddings bring so much joy to my life and I look forward to raising a daughter that I will get to walk down an aisle as some lucky photographer captures our smiles.

Our May wedding will be an adventure as Sarah will not be attending. One week after the birth I think her doctor would scream if she knew Sarah was shooting a wedding. So in comes our backup as we shoot at the beautiful Summit Club downtown Fort Wayne.
I hope your week is starting as fun filled as mine!

This is the baby's room just a few days ago. It is now painted so I will update the blog as we continue the decorating.

Tony and Kelly's wedding slideshow

2008-11-20T20:33:00.005-05:00

Click the play button below to see more pictures of our recent wedding with Tony and Kelly. These two are an awesome couple!

Happy Veterans Day

2008-11-11T10:54:00.012-05:00

Happy Veterans Day to all those who have and are serving in the United States Miltiary. To learn more about Veterans Day click here. Have a great day!

Matt and Sarah by bobbiandmike.com

2008-10-29T19:07:00.009-04:00

We are just bursting at the seams with excitement today! A few weeks back, we had a photo shoot with the amazing Indy photographers Bobbi and Mike. We have been planning this session for months, but finding out that we are pregnant made the session a bit more exciting. I must admit, mostly because Bobbi called me out on her blog, that I was a little bit nervous. Ok, a ton nervous. I totally know how my clients feel the days leading up to their photo shoot. Sarah and I took the session and turned it into a two day mid-week retreat. Sarah and I enjoyed the time together wandering around Indy just being together. It was awesome!

There is a lot more of our photo session with Bobbi and Mike on their website!!! Check them out by going to bobbiandmike.com/blog

Fast Track Photographer

2008-10-21T21:31:00.004-04:00

I did it! I finished the book Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders. Anyone who knows me knows I have trouble finishing books. I have good intentions of finishing a book when I buy it. I love the thought of ending a long busy day with my feet up reading a book. However this typically ends up leading to falling asleep while reading. I have also tried reading first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee. This too has been unsuccessful because I haven’t figured out a good way to hold a hot mug and hold open a book at the same time. I love both too much!

I have a bookshelf full of great books that came highly recommended. They each have their own bookmarks that stay in near the middle of the book. Today however, I finished Fast Track Photographer. This book is absolutely a must read for a photographer who is considering taking their photography to a business level. I learned through this book that if I want to grow a successful photography business I must learn who I am as a person. Without clear understanding of who I am as a person my photography business would be unfocused and misguided. It was a great book and I know there are a few others on my bookshelf that beg to be finished. I think I might finish up Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi.

Get a copy of this amazing book at Amazon.com and get your photography moving!

Tony and Kelly: Wedding

2008-10-19T18:24:00.009-04:00

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful fall day yesterday here in Fort Wayne. The air was cool and the sun was warm, perfect for the wedding of Tony and Kelly. This beautiful couple was joined together at the Unitarian Universalist Church with a reception at the Memorial Coliseum. This had to be one of the shortest ceremonies we have ever attended. I think we clocked it a just over 20 minutes long! With a short ceremony that gave us plenty of time for pictures on the way to the Coliseum.

Tony and Kelly, you two are an amazing couple and we enjoyed every minute of the day with you two. Thank you for making us feel like part of the family. Have a great honeymoon!

Kelly’s dress and the bridesmaid’s dress were dropped off by The Wedding Place. They even stayed around to make sure everything came out perfect.

Daises and Snaps provided a the beautiful flower arrangements for the day.

Check out this cake from the Nutcracker Sweet Shoppe! It tastes just as great as it looks!

Tony told us that some of his groomsmen played in a band with him growing up. Looks like they played air guitars.

This is one of my most favorite bridal party shots.

At some point during the reception one of the groomsmen insisted in attempting a backflip on the dance floor.

We' ve Been Published!!!

2008-10-09T18:52:00.006-04:00

I can’t begin to describe how excited we are about our recent coverage in Planning Your Wedding magazine. Our pictures have been chosen to be on the front cover as well as throughout the magazine. It is a great honor and an accomplishment that we are ecstatic about. This magazine can be purchased at the local Borders, or if you send me an email I would love to get a copy in your hands. I plan on handing this out as we meet with the new brides, but don’t worry if you have already met with us this last couple of weeks. We can get you a copy too when we meet again! :)

P.S. Every magazine includes an AMAZING coupon in the back on our photography services. Pick up your copy and give us a call!

City Barn and Updates

2008-10-06T08:00:00.004-04:00

This weekend I enjoyed a visit to Chicago to meet up with my family. We toured the Lincoln Park Zoo downtown and I couldn't help but notice the contrasting scene of a barn among the tall buildings. I found it funny that we put the barn and the farm back in the big city that may have once, many years ago, been there.

On another note, the new website is nearing completion. It is looking like I may not make my Tuesday planned launch. There are some exciting new updates to Show It Sites that will be out early this week that I would love to incorporate into the new site. Keep checking back for the launch mid-week. Have a great Monday!

Random Monday

2008-09-29T19:49:00.009-04:00

It has been a shameful three weeks since my last post. I must say we have been very busy catching up on some work. I am glad to see the progress and the great advancements we are making. Speaking of great things, I recently found out that one of our shots has made the front cover of Planning Your Wedding, a supplement magazine to Business People. This is a great honor and I can’t wait to see it in print. The issue comes out on October 7th and I promised I wouldn’t post the front cover before the issue comes out. If you do get your hands on a copy be sure to check out our coupon in the back for a very special treat. Also on October 7th I plan on launching our new website. We are now using this amazing software called Show It Sites that has made website building easier than ever. I am overwhelmed with joy and completely excited to see what the future holds for us. Stay tuned, it looks like it will be fun.

P.S. Since I can’t post the cover of the magazine I am posting a random shot during my stroll downtown a few weeks back. I can’t post without showing you a picture!

Second Shooting

2008-09-09T21:40:00.012-04:00

This last weekend I helped my friend Kenny Kim shoot two weddings in Chicago. Second shooting creates a great opportunity to try something new and challenge yourself. This weekend not only allowed me to try new photography techniques, but new life experiences. I experienced new food and culture while shooting both Asian weddings. I even had my first taxi cab ride! Kenny has been a great influence and inspiration on my business and life. I would encourage other photographers to second shoot at each others weddings. It is a lot of fun doing what you love with others who share the same passion.

Also for this last weekend's weddings I indulged myself by renting the new Nikon D700 camera body. My friend Paul at Lens Pro To Gohooked me up with this amazing camera. I am in love with the functions and abilities this full frame camera has. Just for fun I wanted to show you a fascinating image. The below ceremony shot was taken at an incredible 2,000 ISO!!! I intentionally did no adjustments in Photoshop to show you how amazing the D700 performs at high ISOs. Give Paul a call and try out something new and yes he does rent Canon equipment too. Have a great day!

Mike and Lauren

2008-08-28T07:12:00.012-04:00

You might remember the engagement post of Mike and Lauren. Mike and Lauren both played sports overseas and ended up on the same flight back to the States. The fairy tale romance didn’t stop at the carriage ride proposal. This last weekend the two of them married and celebrated their new marriage in downtown Fort Wayne. After a short ceremony we headed over to the Summit Club for a wonderful evening with family and friends.

Mike and Lauren’s wedding guest list covered coast to coast with some special guests from Italy. We are excited to be a part of such a special day for them and their family. We met some great people and learned so much from everyone. We can’t wait to work again with these two in the future.

The Father Of The Bride shared the story of how Mike and Lauren met...from a father's perspective.

Just before the cake cutting Lauren warned Mike about him doing something crazy, but it isn't a cake cutting without some cake smashing!

Mike and Lauren Part 1

2008-08-24T21:56:00.006-04:00

It has been a busy weekend and I will post more pictures of this wedding later this week, but I just wanted to give you a sneek peek at Mike and Lauren on their wedding day. Mike and Lauren have a great honeymoon in Jamaica!

Paige + Senior

2008-08-17T22:01:00.004-04:00

With a resume as long as this one, Paige is headed in the right direction. Paige is involved in Show Choir, Cheerleading, Softball, and is the Senior Class President. On top of all that she just got a great job! Life is full of wonderful opportunities for Paige and she is showing no sign of slowing down.

We had fun with you Paige. Your endless outfits and personality kept us on our toes. Thanks for the entertainment. Have a great Senior Year!

Sheila + Senior

2008-08-15T23:31:00.005-04:00

Sheila is a girl with a thousand facial expressions. We enjoyed our time with her as we watched her warm up to the camera and show her true self. I really love it when I see people start to warm up to the camera and show their personalities. It is always a great discovery to find that inner personality.

Sheila, we had fun hanging out with you and finding great locations in the process. We really hope you have a wonderful Senior year at Columbia City High School and we wish you great success in your future!

Fort Wayne's Best

2008-08-13T19:53:00.006-04:00

I was given the opportunity to photograph the teams of Fort Wayne's Best basketball league. The league is providing an envioroment for young men in Fort Wayne to develop life skills in a healthy fun enviroment. Check them out their website to learn how you can be a part of this amazing basketball league.

Love Twirls

2008-08-13T06:59:00.005-04:00

While I was editing Tony and Kelly’s engagement pictures I ran across a series of images that played like a short video clip as I flipped through them. I love the smiles that a simple twirl will create. Have a great day!

***Technical Note: Let the whole page load to view the animated picture.***

Tony + Kelly

2008-08-10T22:16:00.008-04:00

He is a heavy metal guitarist and she is his biggest groupie. With threatening rain clouds, we set out on Saturday to capture the love that Tony and Kelly share. We found that Tony and Kelly share at least one passion together…KISSING! They loved the opportunity to share this passion in front of the camera.

Tony and Kelly your images totally reflect your love for each other. We enjoyed capturing such love and passion. We are looking forward to your October wedding.

Will + Senior

2008-08-09T15:30:00.003-04:00

As promised I have some images ready to show off. Say hi to Will. Will is one of two seniors to experiance me getting kicked off of a shooting location by an angry owner. We had a blast hanging out with Will and his girlfriend Amanda. Will did an amazing job in front of the camera and I have the images to prove it.

Thanks for a great time Will! Have a great Senior year!

Amanda + Cops

2008-08-08T23:33:00.004-04:00

I feel like it I have been neglecting my blog. Your patients have paid off and have been appreciated. In the next week we are shooting several Senior sessions as well as an engagement shoot. So if you have been waiting to see more of our amazing pictures the wait is over.

Tonight we had a great time and experience shooting Amanda and her boyfriend Will’s Senior pictures. We shot at one of my favorite locations and ran into some great light during what photographers call the “golden hour”. Great light isn’t the only thing we ran into during the shoot. We had the privilege of running into the angry owner of the location we shot at. His anger brought the presence of the local police and after a brief discussion of how beautiful his buildings are, which he didn’t think they were, we packed up and headed to our second location. As we pulled out we saw that the angry owner had called for back up and I couldn’t resist taking a quick picture of the police waiting around the corner.

Amanda we had a great time taking your Senior pictures. You have inspired us to grow as photographers and we can’t wait to show you more pictures from your session.

***Stay tuned for Amanda’s boyfriend Will’s Senior pictures!***

Facebook: The Modern Day Class Reunion

2008-07-26T14:34:00.011-04:00

Ok, so I will be the first to admit it. I am slow when it comes to Facebook. I stood by as I watched countless friends brag about how fun they are having on Facebook. It is time for me to join them. I was kindly welcomed to Facebook by my high school peers and it has been fun reading up on what they have been doing the past nine years. I can't wait to make additional contacts with past friends! Enjoy your weekend and look for Fort Wayne's Best photo shoot coming up.

Grandpa and Carolyn

2008-07-17T07:26:00.006-04:00

A visit that doesn’t come often enough. My grandfather and his new bride Carolyn came to Indiana after driving from Texas to visit with her family in Albion Indiana. They asked if I would take their first “Professional” pictures as husband and wife. What an honor! My grandfather was my best man at my wedding, and now eight years later I am taking his pictures just four months after his wedding. I am excited to see their love and happiness for each other as it continues to grow. Grandpa and Carolyn, we had a great time hanging out with you two and look forward to meeting back up this weekend.

Leininger Family

2008-07-15T07:22:00.009-04:00

Living in a short distance from each other the Leininger Family share a special bond and many memories together. The sun was warm and the breeze was cool creating a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Northern Indiana. We originally planned to take the Leininger Family pictures a few weeks ago, but pending storms delayed our session. This session was not only to have a fresh supply of family pictures, but a celebration of Grandpa and Grandma Leininger’s 40th wedding anniversary. I love seeing the generations that have been started by the love that two people have for each other. Happy Anniversary Grandpa and Grandma Leininger! Thank you for inviting Sarah and I to capture your family on such a beautiful day.

Spreading The Word

2008-06-28T15:42:00.007-04:00

Now I am not much for using my blog as a political soap box, but it is time to spread the word! The video was too funny not to post! Check it out!

P.S. I want to give a shout out to fellow photographer David Jay whose blog I found this on.

Ok, I spend way too much time on the internet! Time to get back to work!

Joel and Rose

2008-06-24T07:51:00.016-04:00

Joel placed a small bible, guitar pick and a proposal letter expressing his love for her in a cigar box and buried it under the shade of a tree. Several months later Joel returned to that spot, but this time with his girlfriend. From the moment he started to read the letter their lifelong journey began. On Sunday Joel and Rose were married at the beautiful Tippecanoe Mansion in South Bend Indiana. I was honored to be a part of the Mike Larson Team along with Mike's wife Rachael and Chicago photographer Kenny Kim. We had a great time capturing the love between Joel and Rose. Mike and Kenny have such amazing talent, and I blessed to have them as friends.

I stole this great shot from Mike's blog....

At the end of the evening, 12:30ish, Kenny snapped this shot of us before we exchanged hugs and left to get some sleep. You guys are amazing people!

It's the BIG one!

2008-06-18T20:21:00.007-04:00

This is it! We love canvas prints and we want everyone to enjoy them in their homes. Because of our love for canvas we are having a BIG sale on all canvas prints over 20x30, but only until this Sunday June 22nd starting right now! We are cutting the prices of these BIG canvases by 25%! Prints are great, but canvas prints are an AMAZING way to show off all those beautiful images we took of you! Some of you may have seen our canvas prints at the Classic City Bridal show earlier this year. Now is your chance to have your images printed big and shown in museum quality canvas.

This is how the pricing will break down:

20x30 standard size, normally $400 now only $300!!!

20x40 standard size, normally $525 now only $393!!!

24x36 panoramic size, normally $540 now only $405!!!

30x30 square size, normally $575 now only $431!!!

Just remember that this BIG sale is only thru this SUNDAY June 22, 2008. So check out your galleries and pick out your favorite images and send us an email. If your gallery has expired don’t worry, just send us an email and we can take care of you too.

Keep Your Eye On The Blog

2008-06-18T07:12:00.005-04:00

With a title like that it sounds like we are now coaching baseball. Well we aren't at that point in life, but we will be having a BIG sale this week! So keep checking back, it may be sooner than you think!

Gallery Up!

2008-06-15T17:07:00.007-04:00

For those who have been waiting so patiently, I am excited to announce that the wedding images for Kyle and Britta are now available for viewing. Just use the password that is located on the back of your favor card you received at the wedding. Check them out by clicking HERE and let me know what you think. To see more of their wedding, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Italy with Mike Larson

2008-06-12T07:26:00.007-04:00

I was checking in on my morning blogroll and came across Mike Larson's post on Italy. Mike shot a wedding last weekend in Tuscany, Italy. (Italy is on my list of top 10 places that I would just love to shoot in) He posted some amazing pictures of a place full of history. Sometimes it is hard to imagine living in a country that dates so far back when I live in such a "young" country. There will be more to come on Mike Larson because I am second shooting at one of his weddings in a couple of weeks. Check out his blog by clicking HERE. Have a great day!

Kyle and Britta - Wedding

2008-06-08T17:45:00.008-04:00

With their closest friends circled around them, they took a vow that tied two families together. Their love for each other poured out and spread joy to all who attended. Family and friends gathered outside the church, Kyle gave Britta one final dip and a kiss before peeling off in a restored Camaro to the reception. The clouds parted in the sky letting the sun shine through just in time for the party!

Music filled the streets of Pierceton with DJ service by Kenny K DJ. This man has an amazing talent to get a party going, and keep it going… I can’t wait to work with him again in the future.

Britta and Kyle, thank you for choosing us to document your special day. Being able to capture your day has been a blessing to us.

Lauren and Mike - Engagement

2008-06-06T10:13:00.006-04:00

They both played sports half a world away. Mike played baseball in Italy (including pitching in the 2004 Olympics for team Italy) Lauren played basketball in Germany. It wasn't until a flight back home that their lives finally collided. They both had a layover in Milan Italy, that is where they first saw each other. After arriving in Chicago they exchanged email addresses at baggage claim and began a journey that would change their lives forever. As time went by; phone calls, emails, and visits passed, the unfamiliarity between them changed to friendship and eventually into endless love. One year from the day they met, Mike surprised Lauren by taking her on a horse drawn carriage ride to look at Christmas light downtown Fort Wayne. He got down on one knee and proposed that night.

In August, Lauren and Mike will celebrate their marriage at the Summit Club overlooking the beautiful city of Fort Wayne. It will be a stunning event that we are excited to be a part of.

One Light DVD Coming Soon!

2008-06-03T20:17:00.014-04:00

You might remember this post a little while back. I had a great time hanging out in Detroit back in April with fellow photographers as we learned off camera lighting techniques from Zack Arias. Zack’s personality is a one of a kind and he is not afraid to show it. He has rebuilt his business after putting the camera down for a couple of years to refocus his priorities in life. My absolute favorite thing about Zack is his strong belief in not wasting money on cheap gimmicks. The photography industry is so saturated with people offering products that they promise will make you a better photographer. (There is no such magic bullet!)

When Zack put together his business the second time he started with off with one camera body and lens, and one off camera flash. He now runs a successful business of shooting bands in Atlanta. When Zack is not shooting bands, he is traveling the country teaching his lighting techniques. Below is a preview of Zack’s first One Light Workshop DVD. I can’t wait for this amazing tool to come out! I believe in Zack’s vision and would love to support his role in making photographers better at their craft. Check out his blog for more tips, tricks, and techniques if you are interested in learning more about photography.

Britta + Kyle Engagement

2008-05-22T23:14:00.020-04:00

The excitement is becoming overwhelming with the wedding just a few weeks away. With all the details set, we ventured out into the city to capture some great shots. Now that the sun doesn’t set until around 8:30 we had some great light the entire session. Britta and Kyle’s personalities came out in only a matter of minutes and the shots absolutely reflect it. Britta and Kyle, we enjoyed spending a couple of hours with you two. Thank you for being so daring for the sake of art. See you in two weeks!

Erin and Ethan:Seniors

2008-05-07T07:48:00.005-04:00

They are never to old for mom to pull out the wallet of pictures of them growing up together. They stood patiently by while once again mom bragged about how special they are.

Erin and Ethan are special. They play a heavy role in their high school tennis teams. When they are not playing and winning first place, congratulations Erin, they are coaching. Their tennis skills are impressive and the passion they have for the sport is amazing.

Erin and Ethan, we had a great time hanging out with the two of you in Warsaw. We are excited to see great success in your future. Enjoy your senior year!

Logan:Senior

2008-05-04T21:59:00.002-04:00

With graduation just around the corner, it was finally time to step in front of the camera. Logan will graduate in just a few weeks and I am so glad he waited to get his senior pictures done because our paths finally crossed. It was during this crossing that he told us of his dreams of being a firefighter for the city he was born and raised in, the beautiful city of Fort Wayne. Congratulations Logan on your graduation! Thanks for letting us be a part of this season of your life.

Happy May!!!

2008-05-01T07:36:00.003-04:00

Spring is here and our schedule is in full bloom. Today I wanted to just give you a heads up on what you can expect from our blog in the coming weeks. Be sure to check back weekly for new posts.

It all starts this weekend with THREE Senior Sessions and a couple more near the end of the month. By the way we still have a few openings left for the FREE sessions! Contact us and we will get you in on the fun. Check back Monday for a look at our amazing weekend.

We also have two engagement shoots lined up that are destined to be a blast. (They both have wonderful stories to tell.) I can’t wait to meet back up with them.

Also in light of the so popular seasonal tradition of garage sales we are looking at hosting a Garage Sale! Not the come to our studio/home kind, but the come join us online kind. We will have products and services on sale for a very short time so be on the look out for those corny garage sale signs that sprout up on every corner.

Finally a random picture from my trip to Open Source Indy. OSPINDY was a gathering of photographers from surrounding cities and states. This one I call Happy Place. Where is your happy place?

Have a great day!

One Light and Big Announcement

2008-04-18T13:30:00.004-04:00

I have always been a big fan of no debt. The photography industry offers products that just scream for our attention. It is very common to be told that this “new” tool will solve all your problems. Yesterday I spent nearly 16 hours at a workshop in Detroit. During the course of the day, the man behind the curtain was exposed to me. I found that there really is no magic bullet that would cure all my photography struggles. It came down to old school knowledge that so many these days fail to receive. Digital cameras bring great opportunities to the average person. It makes it easy for just about anyone to pick up a camera and start taking pictures. I feel that continual education in photography is a must in order to grow in my craft. This is why you will find that I never out grow learning from other great photographers like Zack Arias. I was honored to find out that Zack used one of my images on his blog …check it out!

The below shots may seem to have a theme to them. It is this theme that leads me to my next big announcement. We are now offering Senior Photography for all of those wonderful high school seniors. I want to bring a distinct style to this area of the market and I think the shots below are just that. Distinct. For the next ten 2009 seniors that contact me, I will be giving away a FREE session ($200 value) and a $75 print credit! Don’t miss out on this opportunity. I expect the spots to fill fast so don’t wait to get in touch with me.

6x2: Complete!

2008-04-13T17:22:00.010-04:00

Eight years ago today I signed the dotted line on a contract that would provide me with experiences I wouldn’t otherwise had. I, like so many others did at the time, joined the National Guard for the college tuition benefits. I had no idea what the next eight years would hold for me, but I needed a way to pay for college. The contract included six years of National Guard drill status and two years of inactive status. For the brides out there I have a side note for you. During my basic training Sarah planned 100% of our wedding. We married a few months after I completed training. After my basic training was complete I settled into a one weekend a month routine. Then September 11th happened. As we all know that changed everything. I was called to active duty and spent nearly a year deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. I don’t know how Sarah ever survived without me. After returning I also deployed to Mississippi for hurricane relief. I wouldn’t trade these past eight years for anything. Those people I met and placed I lived make me who I am today. I also want to mention that today is my younger sister’s birthday. I was totally unintentional that I would raise my right hand on her birthday, but at least this way I will never forget her birthday. With all of that said, I thought today I would share a few photos of my past eight years with you. Oh, and one shot of me and my sister on my birthday!

I was fortunate to have Sarah come to visit me while I was in basic training.

This is a picture of Sarah and I just after my basic training graduation ceremony.

This is a shot from one of our many visits with some Iraqi people. This family actually lives in a tent! They invited us to share in some tea in their tent. They are a very humble people.

Just for fun I thought I would stand next to a camel. You would think this would be a common event, but it isn't often that one is on a leash. The owner of this particular camel actually wanted to charge me $20 to ride it. Not going to happen, sorry.

Our unit returned just before Veteran's Day. We proudly participated in the Veteran's Day parade that was held downtown Indianapolis.

This picture was taken a very long time ago. It is the only image I have of my sister when we were young. Since it is her birthday today, I wanted to put a picture of her on my blog. This was taken on my birthday, but it is a picture of a birthday party and she happens to be in it. Oh, and who didn't want a Knight Rider bike! I loved that bike!

Curtis & Amanda's Wedding

2008-03-30T22:41:00.035-04:00

I am in love with this couple! I really enjoyed getting to know this couple, their friends and family. This wedding took place at the beautiful Stonehenge Golf Club in Warsaw Indiana. As you can imagine the guys couldn't resist playing a few holes on the morning of the wedding day. I wish I can show all of you the entire wedding. I promised to put up five pictures and I quickly found I couldn't do that. I am sorry, but I must show you more than five. Trust me it was hard to pick only a few, but I found a little from each major part of the day to share. Leave a comment and let me know what you think! I would love to hear from you!

***EDITED TO ADD***
Ok, so I am not afraid to admit it. I am in love with my clients! Look what great things my recent bride told me! I just have to share it with you!

Matt, the pictures are AMAZING!!! But of course, with you we knew that they would be. Thanks so much for everything that you and Sarah have done so far - and for just going way above and beyond our expectations. The traditional shots of the family all turned out great - but the candids are breath-taking! I'm going to be showing off these pictures for years to come.

Palm Sunday

2008-03-16T21:03:00.007-04:00

I love being in the wedding industry. I get to meet such wonderful couples who all have such different stories. Today we enjoyed watching one groom perform his heart out in a passion play followed by dinner at Pizza King. Just before the play started Sarah leaned over and asked what part he will be playing. With great excitement the bride told us he would be playing the role of Satan! I can’t get over how happy and proud of him she was. She has been to all three showings of the play this weekend and will attend all of them next weekend. It is such a blessing to be a part of all these young couples’s lives. Every time I am with them they refocus my marriage and give me the chance to be a newlywed with them.

The following is just some random shots of our Palm Sunday. Have a great week!

Sarah and our youngest...Ruby!

A nice, close shot of the donkey Jesus rode in on. Actually the donkey came down the aisle before Jesus, but as a viewer of the play we got the idea.

While we waited for our groom/actor to get out of costume we went out to a nearby playground. It has been a while, but today we played on the merry-go-round. I caught some fun shots of Amanda while we spun on the merry-go-round. Notice the cool background blur!

Finally we have our bride who turned photographer. We gladly posed as she practiced her skills.

Thanks for a wonderful afternoon Curtis and Amanda! See you in a couple of weeks!!!

Fathers and Daughters

2008-03-09T15:47:00.012-04:00

Dads and daughters of all ages came together for one amazing night. With valet parking, music, dancing, and dinner they shared a special evening. The entertainment for the evening was professional dance lessons which caused plenty of stepping on toes. It was wonderful watching daughters who range from 5 year old little girls to 20+ adult women dance with their fathers. It was a joy to watch, and an honor to capture the emotion.

Master Your Craft Seminar with Bob Davis & Mike Colón

2008-02-24T14:14:00.017-05:00

Hey blog readers, I just returned from Chicago after attending a seminar with Bob Davis and Mike Colón. These two guys are amazing people and photographers! Bob started by working for the Chicago Sun Times, but soon advanced to celebrity photography. Bob shot Oprah Winfrey's car give away, and Eva Longoria's wedding just to name a few. Mike started only a few years ago in California, but has quickly grown to the point of charging 25-50 thousand a wedding. Mike gives credit to those in the photography industry who he calls givers. When other photographers open their doors as well as their hearts to sharing with others, we grow and master our craft. I do what to mention Kenny Kim. Kenny is another great photographer in the Chicago area. He has been following Bob and Mike on their 9 city tour offering assistance when needed. Check out the following images from the show shot by Kenny and used with his permission.

Curtis + Amanda

2008-02-09T18:59:00.000-05:00

Curtis and Amanda live in the Warsaw area, but today they dove out to Fort Wayne to get some great shots for their E-Shoot. What a fun couple! They are so in love with each other! We found some really great places despite the gloomy cold day. It is a good thing we started the shoot with some hot drinks from Starbucks! Spending a couple of hours with them was just not enough for me. I can't wait to spend an entire day with them in March. Thanks for a great time guys!!!!

[B] Inspired

2008-02-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

I am continually inspired by those in the photography industry. One who is making a differance in the photography industry is Becker. He has a continual desire to raise the bar and to have an impact on those around him. "A rising tide raises all ships." Enjoy this motivational commerical from Apple. Have a wonderful day!

Product Spotlight

2008-02-03T16:33:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take a moment and draw your attention to a product that is one of my favorites. Stretched canvas prints are a dramatic way of showing off your beautiful images. As you can see these fine art canvas prints are stylish and contemporary. With over 3,000 custom sizes available from 6"x6" to 40"x100", we can create a one of a kind art piece for your home. Most of all there is no additional framing needed! You will however need to have some hammer swinging skills for placing that nail in the wall. Stop by our website for further pricing information.

Bridal Bliss!

2008-01-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

What a day! Thank you to all of those brides who stopped by our booth this afternoon at the Classic City Bridal Show! We had the most wonderful time meeting all of you. We look forward to being a part of your weddings. Even with the show ending we still have a lot of work to do. We must now draw a winner for our contest drawing! Stay tuned in the next couple of days to find out who is the lucky bride to when a HUGE stretch canvas print. Thanks for a coming out to see us!

101 New Friends!

2008-01-18T21:08:00.000-05:00

Today we reached a new level in the blogging world. I now know that Matt Hall Photography has 101 new friends! As you can see the world is watching and they should be! We have new and exciting things planned for this year, so don't forget to check our blog daily! Just another reminder to all those engaged couples, we will be at booth number 20 at the Classic City Bridal Show on January 27th! To all my new friends....Thanks for reading!!!

Green Bay Packers!

2008-01-13T19:25:00.000-05:00

It is a good weekend to be a Packer fan! Sorry Colts fans! A couple of years ago Sarah and I indulged in Packer heaven and went to Green Bay WI. What a place! Packer fans are one of a kind. I think the people of Green Bay WI bleed green and yellow. After spending our anniversary dinner at the Brett Favre's Steakhouse, who needs diamonds, we could hardly contain our excitement of going to a game. The day before the game we took a tour of the stadium and encountered a lot of fog as you can see in the picture. Go Pack Go!

New Website Coming Soon!

2008-01-12T12:16:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned to our website! We have an all new look and great new images to show you. Be sure to check back in the next few days to take a look at what we offer. While your there drop us a line and tell us what you think of the new site. We'd love to hear how it inspired you!

Classic City Bridal Show

2008-01-09T20:21:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't heard the bridal show season is upon us. This year Matt Hall Photography is going to have a booth at the Classic City Bridal Show. This show is held at the beautiful Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum on January 27, 2008 from 12-5. Tickets are $5.00 but you can get up to four FREE tickets by clicking here. We will be having show specials that you won't want to miss including a drawing for a HUGE stretched canvas print. Just to add a little blog spice if you mention you read our blog I will have a special little suprise waiting for you! Now you just have to come see us!

Encouragment

2008-01-05T14:37:00.000-05:00

I find it exciting to look back at past clients images! This is one of my favorites from last year. This couple was so amazing to work with. It is because of encouragement like they give that will push me to success. I believe encouragement can do that to a person or even a company!

Winter Wonderland

2008-01-01T19:03:00.001-05:00

Well it is the first day of the new year, and in Ft. Wayne we have snow. Snow isn't so bad if you are sitting inside with a hot cup of coffee, but to go shopping is another story.We drove over to Jefferson Pointe to do some shopping and found that some stores did not open today. The few stores that did open offered plenty of treasures to buy, like a new book! Now I have new books and hot coffee inside my warm home!

Brock Hillman

2007-12-31T16:20:00.001-05:00

Last week Brock Hillman sent me a copy of his newest CD. Brock's music style is perfect for my new website. Be sure to swing by his website and get yourself a copy!

Christimas Early!

2007-12-13T07:27:00.001-05:00

I was blessed yesterday by the giving of another person. A friend of mine had an excessive amount of darkroom equipment in his garage. He asked if I would have some use for it, and with open arms and truck I gladly took the equipment off his hands. As you can see I have some cleaning to do, but underneath that dust is hours of creativity just asking to be released. Now if I can just find my 35mm FILM camera!

First Dance

2007-12-04T12:34:00.000-05:00

It amazes me how fast something can spread when given the right tools. I had recently finished this great book called Creating Customer Evangelists. The internet has become a great tool for businesses, allowing the word to spread faster than a single sales person could. To continue with spreading the word on this funny video I want to share it with you. Enjoy the show!

Finishing Strong

2007-12-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

I was recently challenged to think of how I want my life to look at the finish line. Am I doing things now that are going to lead me to that point? It is never to late to start planning for a strong finish.

New look...

2007-11-26T07:59:00.000-05:00

New look, same great taste! So taste doesn't apply to a new photography logo, but our style of photography can be better defined. Before we replace everything with the new logo let me know what you think.

Anyone can comment

2007-11-05T07:40:00.000-05:00

Little by little I am exploring the world of Blogging. Today I unlocked the comment page allowing anyone to comment on the posts. No Google account necessary. So in light of my new find....comment away!

Required

2007-10-29T19:33:00.000-04:00

Although I often hate to find myself on the business end of a camera lens, sometimes it is "reqired". As for this shot, a self portrait, I must post only to have it available to use in future blogging.

Hope City

2007-10-22T08:13:00.000-04:00

Everyone has a story yet the stories from the victims of Hurricane Katrina are amazing. Stories like a husband/father watching the bodies of his wife and children floating past him as he hangs onto a tree. Or of the many families that waited the storm out in their attics as the water levels rise. Nobody expected the water to rise over 20 feet like it did. Nobody expected so much devastation. Even two years later the Gulf Coast still needs help rebuilding. Last week I went with a group of nearly 30 people to help. We framed up a house for Richard and his wife. To see Richard’s smile from ear to ear was enough to keep us motivated and encouraged. Mid week Richard brought over a 25 pound Red fish to share with the group. It was an experience we wont soon forget.

Can you hear me now?

2007-10-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

So it is time to renew my Verizon cell phone contract. I must have picked the busiest evening to do it because I waited an hour before I gave up. During my waiting I wandered the store and played with all the cool phones. During that process I called my current phone from several display phones to "try them out". For the past two days I have received more calls from the display phones than any others. People, while waiting their hour, are hitting redial on the display phones! I was dumb enough in the beginning to call back the unknown number thinking it could be a potential future client. Of course nobody answered so I left a voicemail. So as my new cost effective marketing strategy I am going to go to all the Verizon stores and put my phone number in all the call logs. Who knows, I might get a potential bride to call me!

Shooting Smarter

2007-09-29T17:31:00.001-04:00

I can't turn down taking two days to touch up on some lighting and composition skills. It only makes it better to be taught by lighting master Chris Grey. What a great time I had connecting with fellow photographers from all over the country.

Capture and Creativity

2007-09-24T12:31:00.000-04:00

I ventured to Chicago as part of a two weekend adventure. Yesterday I was inspired by Clay Blackmore and Jane Conner-Ziser as they showed ways to perfect every aspect of the portraiture craft. It was a great time with plenty of practical insight as well as opportunities for laughter. Clay has now officially broken four chandeliers on this tour. Jane showed off the impressive technique of creating paintings with our images. It is a very time consuming process with breathtaking results. Even with the fun we couldn't forget why the tour took place. These two amazing artists took to the road in honor of Monte Zucker who passed away earlier this year. Monte was known as the dean of the traditional-style wedding photographers for his classic posing and lighting techniques. He was know for his willingness to teach and share his knowledge to others. Next weekend I will finish up my Chicago adventures by meeting with Will Crockett. Will has written several books as well as video series on posing and lighting techniques. I look forward to getting my hands dirty and filling up some camera cards with Will.

Show It!

2007-09-19T20:14:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to take family pictures of a wonderful Ohio family. Every session is a blast, and this was no different. We had a great time playing leap frog in a downtown alley. I bringing people to unique locations, and creating one of a kind images for the family. Following this session I took the biz one step further. I am now offering Show It slideshows with my sessions. Show It is a great keepsake for the clients, by putting the images from their session to music.

Turn up those speakers and watch the show!

Why We Were There

2007-09-11T19:44:00.000-04:00

Back on September 11, 2003 a friend and I created a few videos from our pictures when we got back to Kuwait. I think the eyes of the childeren tell us that there is hope for their country. The childeren are the future of that country, and the future of that country is why we were there.

So Awesome!

2007-09-10T21:18:00.000-04:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to capture the wedding of a great couple this past weekend. Their love for each other just radiates! I can’t wait to show them their pictures.

Open For Blogging

2007-09-10T18:36:00.000-04:00

You've got to start somewhere. That is what I was told on the first day of my first job. It still holds true to many applications in life. Today is the first day of my blog. May we have many more.