we are having a big party on sunday to launch our new album samples.  we have had so many people r.s.v.p. that i'm a little nervous.  my house is really tiny, but i think it will be a lot of fun.  we have clients coming from last year and this year and next year!  so many of our clients are from out of town and they will not be able to come, but we will have another day for them to get in on the specials, too.  we thought we'd get some photos from the party and send them the info, so that it would be almost like they were here!

anyway, i finished up one more book before sunday...   here it is!

**CLICK HERE** OR ON THE PICTURE ABOVE to see how fun this couple was!  Tara and Paul live in South Carolina, but Tara's mom & dad are coming sunday.  it will be so great to see everyone again!

KEEP READING below to learn about how we do our books, and to see more albums!

i just love designing albums.  i've been working on several at a time, and i am down to the last few to put the finishing touches on.  i just have to post these, since i'm quite proud of them, and so that you can see what i've been up to!

for those of you who are interested in my process, i can tell you that i'm not the fastest, but i take my time and design like i've come to shoot... for myself.  the first thing i do is pull the images that are 'top shelf'.  in a sense, i proof the wedding!  this usually takes me about 2 hours.  it all used to take much longer, but i get faster each time i design.  then i pre-process those images.  we shoot RAW files, so every image needs to be processed.  before i start a pre-design, i custom 'tweak' every image so that it's just about to 'print ready' quality.  the images are then all sharpened and converted to a file-type that can be read by other programs (.jpg).  this step takes about 6-8 hours.  then, the fun begins. every album is custom designed.  i don't use templates, and i keep the elements consistent.  i am focused on a clean, un-cluttered, elegant, timeless design.  i strive to create a book that is one that you would be proud to keep out, show-off and want to look at forever.  i can imagine your grandchildren looking through the book and getting to know you, and what you were like the day you were married.  the design process, itself can take 8-12 hours. some books flow more easily than others, not for any other reason than the layout... i design 2-page spreads at a time, and the gutter (the split right down the middle) has to be avoided.  all my books start out as square, unless otherwise requested. 

the book is still no where near ready.  the client needs to approve the design, make changes, and additions and select the pages they want to keep. once this all decided, the retouching begins.  i can tell you that when the finished albums arrive, they are so beautiful, sometimes i can't believe i did them!  they begin with great photography by two photographers, and are finished to perfection by artists who hand craft the books.  they are like my CHILDREN!  sometimes it's hard to let them leave the studio, i just love them so much.  i think of them as marriage insurance.  when a couple looks back on their day and remembers how wonderful their life together began, i think it's like a tie that bonds them together.  Photographs do that.  Really.

so here are a few links to the latest Photographic Journals that have been pre-designed....  just CLICK ON EACH NAME TO ENJOY!

Amy & Bill

Jessica & Dean

Lisa & Ricky

Dana & Brandon

Jim & Lisa

Beth & Keith (matted album)

the pre-design is for myself.  i  make sure to incorporate all the elements that i know are important to my clients.  we know that our clients like what we like, so if i shoot for myself, and design for myself, i will not disappoint.  this is why the first thing we tell people is that IT IS MOST IMPORTANT to us that you like our style.