tammy swales photography
Yup. It was cold. So cold that that my fingers were sticking to my equipment. (That’s cold.)
But who cares?
Neil and Jess braved 12 degree temps and a snow storm for their session. I wore jeans (WHAT was I thinking) and got completely soaked.
Dana and Mike were fearless on their wedding day and we did ALL their photographs outside! I was so into it I forgot to put on my coat! Yeah. The whole day outside in a shirt. Go Tam. ::laughing shaking head.::
2011.
So I was faced with a dilemma about 2011.
How to talk about it. How to show you my work. How to make you happy to see it. (I’m still working on that one! ::grin:: )
Do I talk about the new studio?
Or how we’ve grown in leaps and bounds?
Or my team?
Or the cool projects I’ve gotten to do this year?
Or the traveling?
Or what I’ve learned?
Or what’s new?
…. I could. But then the blog entry would be 156 pages long and you’d be here until Sunday morning reading this. And I’m frankly, not that interesting. 
Then I thought, well, maybe I can post a lot of photographs and talk about each one…but I want you to watch all the way to the end, right? (Yes Tam, all the way to the end. Gheesh!) I don’t want you to get overwhelmed, or bored, and stop mid-story. Fail.
So my dilemma was (and always is, btw) — how can I present images in a way that pushes a little bit? …in a way that draws you in, makes you think and engages you from start to end?
This is the result. It was a huge CHALLENGE to put together because (and you’ll see this if and when you watch) it had to flow — so we had to edit down brutally. That infuriated me — but sometimes…less is more, eh? Tell me less is more. So I have forced myself to stop fretting over how much I COULDN’T show you. Or this would be 4 hours and 37 minutes instead of just a couple. I am exercising restraint. Someone had to!
So I am disproportionately proud of the final result. It’s EXACTLY what I had in mind when I was scribble-scrabbling for the right way to present 2011.
Be prepared. It made ME cry — and I TOOK the images.
Also — I just had this headshot done by the RIDICULOUS Carla Ten Eyck — and I LOVE. So I’m debuting it just because I think it’s perfectly ME.
So in order to see the review you have to click on my head. ::laughing::
Or…if you absolutely don’t WANT to click on my head (we can discuss the implications of this later… ) – then click here.
(And please do not judge the fact that I cannot figure out how to embed a video on this blog to SAVE MY LIFE. ) Now on to 2012. BRING. IT.
I’ve had this blog entry percolating in my head for a while…it’s something that comes up at EVERY meeting I have with my couples and I hear the worry when they bring it up – what if it rains, Tam, what if the weather is bad?
Since one of my focus points this year is to not stress over (or stress LESS) things that I have absolutely no control over (wish me luck ::grin::). I am offering this list of 5 reasons you may not have considered about weather and why it’s very unpredictable nature (if you’ll pardon the pun) makes your day uniquely yours…it’s something you should prepare for – but not stress over.
5. You have no control over it.
Do you see that one coming? ANYTHING can happen with weather. The more calm you are about it – the easier it will be to adjust quickly to any change that comes up. Here’s the trick – let it go. Laugh about it. Don’t let it be the thing that makes you upset – let it be the thing that makes it fun.
4. No squinty, vampire eyes if it’s bright sun.
Now. I know Twilight and how trendy all things vampire are right now – but in wedding photography, at least, the dark shadows that happen around your eyeballs when the sun is bowling ball bright are not the best in images. In order to combat that – photographers will become shade hounds or have to point a flash directly AT YOU to light your face up in a way that makes you look evenly lit. Trust me – bright sunny days are pretty for sure – but they offer their own challenges – especially if you are getting married in summer and you add hot into the mix. One weekend this year I saw men sweat THROUGH their jackets. Man it was hot.
Um. I don’t have any examples of squinty vampire eyes. But you know what I mean right?
3. Cloudy = AMAZING images.
Soft cloudy, grey clouds, dark clouds – all are STUNNING in images AND you totally avoid “the squint” or the need for sunglasses. Your eyes won’t water. And you get the loveliest romantic images. The colors pop against a grey sky. Grass, buildings, colors – everything is more vibrant and lively. Mmmmmmm grey days are my favorite.
2. Rain = Playful
What other opportunity do we have for rubber boots, or umbrellas or reflections on EVERYTHING? Rainy days are creative. There are SO many ways to make images in the rain – and if you’ll remember the way bad weather makes everyone more relaxed – rainy day images are INCREDIBLE. And sexy. And bad ass. Take THAT rainy day.
1. Bad weather makes a better party.
The above image is from a wedding in Binghamton NY two week AFTER the entire city was flooded. Like twelve feet of water flooded. Mud. Rain. Clouds. And the funnest party EVER. Now. This is ONLY a Tammy Swales observation/opinion so take it for what it is –– But I believe that everyone is anxious about the weather being perfect on their wedding day – so when it changes and rains or is windy and IMPERFECT – something is released – anxiety maybe? Everyone relaxes — it’s like — “Hey. It happened. But now we can stop thinking about it and have FUN!”
…
Okay. So that’s five. But I can hear you thinking – okay Tam. We get it – but what if the weather is REALLY severe? Lightening or Tornado or Hurricane? Here’s the answer: You adjust. You adapt. Everyone becomes a team and team thinking is the most amazing thing ever.
I went to Hilton Head SC this year for what I was expecting to be an INCREDIBLE beach wedding. (You already see what’s coming, right?) Yup. Tropical Storm. Winds at 40 mph. Crazy Ocean that was muddy colored from the sand being churned up.
Yeah. Not what we were hoping for.
So team thinking came into play. Ceremony moved to the pavilion. Tables were adjusted. Wedding party photos happened in a PARKING GARAGE. Don’t judge. ::grin:: The light was amazing and most importantly: NO WIND.
The day after session was equally as crazy. But then we could play in the water and wind and waves and pool and really make the weather a part of the images. And truly – it was the most amazing day ever. We laughed and ran and played and no one cared about the weather.
Neither should you. It’s your day – and the weather is only a tiny part of your story. But if it’s a BIG part of your story – then imagine the amazing stories you’ll have to tell forever after. About how you adapted. About how you laughed. And about how it was the best damn party you’d ever been too.
And if you REALLY want to get your mind blown – check out this blog entry by the amazing Bobbi and Mike out of Indianapolis. They had an ACTUAL TORNADO go over the wedding they were photographing and I cried my eyes out reading about it. But the story is amazing and incredible. And, the day and images were amazing.
So stop worrying! Play! Dream! Laugh! But don’t let weather worries trap you into thinking that it will ruin your day. It probably will do the exact opposite and make it personally YOURS and be AMAZING.
No stress!
Stay tuned for the COOLEST 2011 Recap EVER.
At first we we’re like, “No way!” But when I watched Will & Kate’s wedding all I kept thinking was how they were having this REALLY BIG IMPORTANT moment with the whole world watching them! I knew I didn’t want that, even with a small part of the world. I just wanted it to be a moment for US 
1.14.2012
I love that photo. Your video is just perfect. I sent it to my daughter as she is in Costa Rico and I need to remind her to wear her sunscreen.
1.15.2012
Love the video…so many incredible photos in there! And I’m also a huge fan of the accompanying poem
Congrats on a wonderful 2011.