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On Sunday I was in Hagerstown at Duffy’s on Potomac for the Hagerstown Magazine Bridal Gala. It was a fantastic show with a great turn out. At the show I had a drawing for a one hour engagement session including an 8×10. Toni B. was the winner of that drawing! Congrat’s Toni!
That was my last bridal show for February, and probably for the rest of the year. Thanks to all who came out to see me! I’m looking forward to hearing from you and working with you over the next year; even well into 2010!
I’m packing up to go to the HM Bridal Gala at Duffy’s on Potomac. Come on out and see us; this might be our last show of the winter season! I’m going to run a special for all those who book today or schedule a meeting with me. My typical retainer is 25% of your package, however, if you book today at the show, or setup a later meeting, you only need to put down $199! This is several hundred less then most of my package retainers! Come on out and see us between noon and 3 pm, we will be on the third level in the Ballroom.
going to shoot the outdoor expo for smart magazine
I’ve got a busy weekend lined up, but first I have news about our new monthly newsletter! This past Thursday I sent several hundred people our first newsletter. These were all past clients and people who signed up to receive info at bridal shows or through my site. So far the responses I’ve received have been extremely positive. Everyone I’ve talked to has loved it. I’m excited to provide this new line of communication to my current and future clients, and look forward to continuing this service. In my newsletter, I am not only talking about our current news, and promotions, but also providing a few photography tips and tricks. My first issue had my top 5 Wedding Photography tips, which I subtitled ‘It’s Emotion, not Faces’. If you would like to start receiving my newsletter, including my monthly tips, sign-up here! If you sign up and leave a comment letting me know that you did, I will make sure you receive this month’s copy.
Today I will be shooting for ‘Smart Company’ magazine at the Great Outdoor Expo located at the Valley Mall in Hagerstown, MD. I’m excited to be going out to shoot this freelance work, and will be leaving as soon as I’m done with this post.
Tomorrow I will be at the HM Bride Bridal Gala at Duffy’s on Potomac, which is located in downtown Hagerstown. The show starts at 12 noon and ends at 4 pm, however, the vendor show ends at 3 pm. Admission for the show is $5.00, but if you bring 4 friends the bride is free. Bridal shows are a great way to meet us and to see our work. I think this show is going to be packed out, so you might want to come early. There will be 3 floors of vendors, and, yes, I think there will be refreshments. I’m really looking forward to this show, and I will, as I have in past shows, have a couple who’s wedding I shot back in July. Stop by and meet us, talk to my clients, and look through some of my work! The show will be having plenty of drawings for giveaways at the end, plus I will be having my own drawing. I hope to see you there!
Well, today is it. My last day of being in my 20’s. I can’t say that I feel any different. I sure as heck don’t feel any older or wiser than I did when I turned 20, but then again, maybe knowing I’m not any wiser is evidence that I am.
While I don’t feel any different I can’t help but be a little retrospective. A lot has changed in ten years. Instead of being a stupid kid, going to college and living with my parents. I now own a house, I’m married and a father of 2 small children. Just 10 years ago, I didn’t have any responsibilities at all, and I didn’t want any. Now I’m the primary provider for 3 other human beings. When did this happen? How did this happen? Well, I guess I know how; but when did this happen? It was just yesterday I was a senior going to Smithsburg High School, skipping and cutting as many classes as I could get away with. It was just yesterday that I met the girl of my dreams. Just yesterday that I woke up in my parents house. Just yesterday I was a kid.
I wasn’t one of those 20 year olds who went out partying every night. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been ‘partying’ in my 20’s. I’ve never been drunk, I didn’t do anything special at all for when I turned 21. I took a fairly straight path. Met a girl, graduated high school, went to college, graduated college, married the girl I met in high school, bought a house, had kids, and here I am. Some people might ask if I feel I’ve missed out on something, not going a little crazy in my early 20’s. I have to say no. There is nothing more rewarding then to come home to your own family, to a house you had built, to a three year old who screams your name when you walk in the door and hugs your legs as hard as he can, to the first and only girl you have ever fallen in love with, to a smiling baby girl who only has 2 front teeth. Nothing. If I had gone out and ‘had fun’, I wouldn’t be where I am today. But I have to say, it is only by the grace of God that I made the decisions I have made that got me here. I’m just not that smart. I’m not saying that young people shouldn’t go out, get a little crazy, and have fun. I’m just saying that wasn’t in the cards for me, and I don’t regret that for a single moment.
I also started my business in this decade of my life. It was the riskiest and smartest decision I have ever made. I remember thinking when I started this that I would do it part-time. That I would only work a couple of weekends a month, if I was lucky, and then maybe make enough to pay a little extra on my mortgage. That was in 2005, here I am 4 years later and it’s my full-time job. It quickly became the part-time job that required my full-time attention. alifestudio has been such a blessing to me and my family, way more than I can possibly describe in a blog setting, and my clients are to thank for that. My clients have no idea how grateful I am to them. They are the reason my family has food on the table, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads. They are the best bosses I have ever had. :)
So here I am. The eve before my 30’s and an entire decade of my life summarized in this post. As I write these words flashes of memories are coming to me. Some memories just to long to write, other’s way to personal to write, but they are all equally valuable to me. Those experiences are what make me who I am and will be. Some were God given, some were self given, and some were from hell, but they formed me and helped me grow up from that stupid 19 going on 20 year old kid I was 10 years ago today.
This Sunday I will be at Duffy’s on Potomac for the second annual HM Bride Bridal Gala. The show starts at 12 and will end at 4 pm. At 3 pm all of the bridal show guests will go across the street to the Maryland Theater where there will be a runway fashion show. Visit hmbride.com for more details. By-the-way, the website does not list all of the vendors who will be attending. I have a list and there are almost 40 vendors. Cost of the show is $5.00.
Here are some images from the coldest engagement session ever, but these guys did a great job. I met Jadylee and Alex last Saturday at the Peace Light in Gettysburg, PA, which holds special meaning for them, because that is where Alex proposed. They are getting married on July 25th at the church Alex’s father pastors in York Springs, PA, and then they are having there reception at the Carroll Valley Resort, which is located in Fairfield, PA, at Ski Liberty, which I think is called Liberty Mountain now.
Gettysburg is on of my favorite places to shoot. There are just so many great places to shoot in town and on the battlefield. So here are just a handful of photos from the day. (By-the-way, the stuff that looks like snow, is not snow, it was solid ice. You couldn’t step through it unless you stomped, and even that barely worked.) :)
These two are one of the sweetest couples I’ve met. I’m really looking forward to their wedding in July, when it will be much, much, warmer. :) Thank, guys for a great session!
It’s February. Spring training starts for Baseball. Retail stores are now selling spring clothes, and after Valentine’s Day, Easter products will be available, if they’re not all ready. Mardi Gras is in a few weeks. College kids are going on spring break. Yep, spring is just around the corner.
Are you still looking for a photographer for your 2009 spring wedding? Well, for all of you spontaneous people and those who are just plain procrastinators. I am having a sale on my remaining spring weekends! I met several 2009 spring brides over the past couple of weeks at the Hagerstown Valley Mall Bridal Show, and at the Gettysburg Hotel Bridal Faire who haven’t booked a photographer. This sale is for brides who are getting married between now and May 15, 2009. Here are the Spring Wedding Sale details:
6 hours of wedding day coverage
DVD of your wedding photos on an archive disc in a leather bound DVD case
A letter giving you license to print and copy those photos for private use
One year online proofing
An 11×14 Heirloom Print, lacquer sprayed with styrene backing (Styrene is a hard plastic backing which will protect the print.)
An $1,800.00 value for $1,500.00, you save $300!
Check out my work on my main site: www.alifestudio.com and click on the ‘contact’ link to send an inquiry. Or to inquire right away, send an email to info@alifestudio.com, or call us between 9 am - 7 pm (EST) 717.762.7201. Limited days are available, so you need to hurry! This is a first come first serve, and, as always, days are not booked unless the retainer has been paid and a contract has been signed.
