Proposal Caught on Camera! {Carroll Valley, PA Photographer}

It finally happened. I was finally able to capture a proposal on camera, and I didn't even have to hide in the trees!

It all began when Azim contacted Liberty Mountain asking for a special chairlift ride to the top of Liberty Mountain so he could propose to his girlfriend Amrin. Azim was pointed in my direction and I was the lucky one chosen to help him make plans for the special day. Of course I offered to take pictures of the proposal and was thrilled that I'd finally get the opportunity to photograph such a secretly-planned, once-in-a-lifetime, special occasion.

It was the perfect day for a proposal. Beautiful blue skies, lots of sunshine, warm temps, and a not-so-crowded mountain top with a great view. As I rode the chairlift up the mountain with Azim and Amrin, I was nervous. What if I missed the proposal? What if I wasn't in the right spot for great pictures? What if I somehow gave away the secret?? But once we got to the top, I was ready for action and couldn't wait to see it all take place. Besides, the only proposal I've ever been to was mine own. Thanks Honey. :)

Congratulations Azim and Amrin! Thanks for letting me be part of something so special!

Guys out there getting ready to propose to your girlfriends - if you're stumped on how to make your proposal extra special, consider hiring a photographer (ME!) to capture it all on camera! Proposing and being proposed to is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for most people, so having pictures of the special occasion would be like icing on the cake! Guaranteed your girl will be surprised, thrilled and totally IN LOVE with you! I'm ready and willing for more secret proposal shoots. :)

Inspired {MD, PA, VA, WV, DC Photographer}

I read blogs on a daily basis. I think it's safe to say that I've got nearly 100 different blog links set up in my list of "Blogs I'm Following" on my Blogger dashboard. If every single one of those blogs had a new post every single day, I'd probably do nothing but read blog posts during my "free" time. Free time, HA! That's another story...

But reading lots of blogs is good. Very good. Since discovering blogs and the art of blogging this past summer, I've been constantly finding myself inspired. Of course the majority of the blogs I follow belong to photographers, some of them nationally and internationally known, so it's easy for me to relate and to leave the posts feeling motivated and "ready to go" as a photographer and business owner. The blogs have offered great business advice, shooting techniques, portrait location ideas, and editing suggestions. They just plain inspire me and I love it. I look forward to my blog reading every day.

One thing that I've been most inspired to do recently is to pay more attention to my own blogging (because there are so many rockin' blogs out there), for both the benefit of myself personally and for the benefit of my photography business. So far in my blogging experience, my posts have typically been about photography - my latest portrait sessions, my first wedding, my new lens - and have been far and few between. I think it's time for something different. I want to start blogging more about life, my personal thoughts, and what inspires me. And I want to blog more often. If I just take five minutes to put a few quick thoughts together with one picture (instead of 25) for a post, even when I am super duper busy, I think it will be good, again for both me and my business. So I think I am considering this new campaign for better blogging practices as an early new year resolution that's affective immediately. No waiting until January 1, 2010. The time starts now.

First minor change to make my blogging practices better and different - use keywords in post titles. This change clearly isn't something huge, but it isn't photography-related and it won't take 25 pictures to express my ideas and thoughts. It will help to better my blog for my business.

Yesterday, I attended a Social Media Workshop at 3rd Idea in Gettysburg, PA. Anne, my boss at Liberty, suggested I attend and see what new things I could find out about Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and the social media that is taking over the world of marketing. Seriously, it's happening. Anyways, while I already know the basic ideas of such social media tools and use them often, I did walk away from the workshops with a few little tid bits that will help with our marketing efforts at Liberty and with my business.

Including keywords in my post titles will help me to be more searchable. In other words, Google will like me even more! If I include "MD, PA, VA, WV, DC Photographer" in my post title (like I have for this post), I will have a good chance at coming up in a Google search for MD, PA, VA, WV, and DC photographers. After learning this at the workshop, I noticed that some photographers due include such labels (of themselves, their business) in their post titles, and I always kinda wondered why. Well now I know, and I'm going to do it, too. So here's to the start of including keywords in my blog post titles! Here here!

And because it's Christmas time and all blog posts shine best with a picture, here's one for ya: Mine and Brian's Christmas tree.

Sorry for the wordy post. I was on a roll.

Happy Halloween: Take One

As the newest and youngest year-round employee at Liberty, I always try to bring something new and exciting to the resort. Whether it's a cake to celebrate a special birthday or a reason to have a special holiday lunch, I bring it. Or should I say, "coordinate it." It does say "Event Coordinator" on my business card so it's only fitting that I spice things up here at work, right? That's what events do. They spice up your life! *Que Spice Girls hit song "Spice Up Your Life." :)

We sorta unofficially celebrated Halloween today at work. I sent out a teaser email earlier in the week with a few pictures from last year's Halloween included hoping that at least some people would find the motivation and fun in wearing costumes to work today. Surprisingly, quite a few people really got into it and really dressed up. Even our General Manager Eric decided to show his Halloween spirit. It was quite an interesting morning...

I started off my event coordinating by bringing in jack-o-lantern doughnuts to share with the crew. I saw these at Walmart and just couldn't pass them up! How cute are they!?!

Next item on the coordinating list: get Eric (our GM) into a zombie costume!
Mission accomplished.

Eric is the guy on the far right in the picture below. He happily got into costume and really helped to spice things up. But first, a meeting in the hallway with some of Halloween's finest.

Once Eric put his mask on, he was in true zombie form. Here he is waiting to scare our UPS guy. It's amazing what people will do when their identity is hidden.

This is when things got REALLY GOOD. Eric put on quite a zombie show - creeping around, snarling at people and dragging his legs like zombies do. Below is the perfect zombie pose. Eric had us all laughing hysterically as he creeped up, down and around the stairway. What a Halloween trooper he is.

And the show continues! Eric and Lonny trying to scare Jimmy in the Rental Shop.

A group picture of all our Halloween groupies! Thank you all for getting into the Halloween spirit! Sorry I didn't participate - my costume wasn't quite ready. I'll reveal that in my second Halloween post. ;)

All in all, I was successful in spicing things up here at work by adding a little Halloween spirit to our day. We have a lot of fun here at Liberty and that's probably what keeps some of us sane, especially when the winter season rolls around. What shall I coordinate next?? ;)

Happy Halloween: Take Two - COMING SOON! Just you wait. :)

Josh and Angie's Wedding

Oh my goodness it's been a week since my last blog post. SO SORRY! Here's a beautiful wedding to make up for it. :)

On July 18th, our friends Josh and Angie finally tied the knot. After years of dating and many months waiting for a ring, they made it official and got hitched in front of all of their closest family and friends. Literally, all! Angie told me that they only had six people out of their 200 some person guest list, that were not able to attend. Just SIX PEOPLE! Have you ever heard of such a thing!?! That's just plain awesome and amazing.

To start things off at the church, here's Angie's brother Corey seating the mother-of-the-bride, Phyllis. The Wyand family is such a sweet bunch! (Note: I was not the photog at this wedding. Just a friend with a big camera...hehe).

The cute little flower girl, Nina. She looked like a princess.

I love taking pictures of people taking pictures. :)


Here comes the bride!

I love this shot of the church.

Mr. and Mrs. Josh Hoy - hitched!

The reception was held at the Price Parlor. It's a family farm and is used often as an event venue, mostly church picnics. This was their first wedding at the Parlor and everything was great! The Price family and others cooked all the food, did all the decorations and had everything planned out to a T. I told Angie her family needs to consider going into the wedding business. :)

Hey there, cowboy.

The Parlor was definitely a unique venue for a wedding. Think old western town meets backyard country living.

This was one of my favorite details of the day!

How cool lookin' is this place!?! This is where the food was served. The delicious homemade food.

I took Josh and Angie's engagement pictures back in May. I was so excited to see them on display at the reception. I was kinda proud. :)

Just to give you another idea of what exactly the Parlor looks like...

This dad and his sons were sooo cute sitting on this bench! And how perfect that a nice wooden wall would be in the background. This picture helps to sum up the feel and atmosphere of the reception.

More of their engagement pictures on display! YAY!

I loved, loved, LOVED all the chinese lanterns that hung from the ceilings throughout the Parlor.

When this happened the first time, I missed it. A few friends helped me to repose. CUTE!

Me and Honey! Fun fact: my outfit (dress and sweater) is from like 11th grade! It's about six years old and still fits!

The lighting was so beautiful in some spots.

Josh and Angie were able to stand tall (and high) above their guests.

Rachel Norris. One of the cutest little girls I have ever seen. Here she is being a cute little diva and admiring the bride and groom.

Just another beautiful and favorite detail from the reception.

A wonderful shot to end the day! Angie just happened to catch me snapping this picture and gave me a beautiful smile!