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.::

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.

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.

My son is either the luckiest boy in the world to have a mother like me — or the most long-suffering.  Some days I think he wouldn’t be able to tell you either — but the best part about our relationship is that we ARE.  We are close.  We are friends.  We support and love each other.

We took a trip together recently and my son shook his head “no” at a man who was, in my son’s opinion, “checking me out”.  ::laughing::  How can you NOT love this kid?  This is the look I imagine he gave:

Matt has wanted to be in Emergency Services since he was two years old.  And has never waivered.  Yesterday he found out he was accepted into the Paramedic Program — something he’s been planning for and working towards for years. He’s volunteered as a firefighter and worked as an EMT — long hours and helping people over and over again.

I took this photo of him at Family Day during his firefighter training program (and my heart gives a little thump when I look at this…):

Yesterday he got the call.  Accepted!

He called me, his voice was shaking.  He said.  Mom, I’m freaking out!  I couldn’t figure out who to tell first!

I said:  Well, OBviously you call ME first.

He said:  Mom, I’m talking to you first — even BEFORE I posted it on Facebook!!

::laughing and shaking head::

Later that night he was sitting next to me on the couch both of us on computers (yeah, dorks, I know) and this popped up on facebook (yes, he occaissionally calls me “Swales” and I think it’s funny!):

Dear Swales,

You are awesome.

Sincerely,

Your Son (who is achieving his dreams with the help of your awesomeness [aka your parenting!])

This is what I typed back (sitting next to him on the couch):

Dear Metzler… I am so very very proud of you. YOU deserve happiness and much success. And I am so inspired by watching you setting your mind to do something and then DOING IT. YOU ROCK. Sincerely, Your Mom (who is always behind you no matter what)

I know this is probably too much information — but my heart is full today.  You see, my son lost his dad, suddenly, three months ago, and it’s been hard on everyone.  I watched my son handle it with grace and sadness and respect — surrounded by his friends, co-workers and family.  He is SO amazing.  He is just one of those guys who will help you no matter what.  He’s a great listener, and has this crazy sense of humor!  So watching him, despite EVERYTHING going on, go after something, figure out how to do it and the ACHIEVE it.

Well.  I don’t know what the right words are to tell you how I feel about it.

I just wanted to talk about him.

My favorite thing is hearing their story.  What makes them amazing.  What they are passionate about.  All the fun stuff! 

So, part of a conversation yesterday resonated with me — enough so that I felt compelled to blog about it — because, as always — to ME — SEEING what I’m trying to talk about is as important as the words…

Todays Composition Title:

First Looks.

First Looks are misunderstood.

First Looks break tradition.

First Looks are scary (and exciting, and intimate…and…wait.  I’ll get there.  ::grin::).

A lot of brides come to me and when the subject comes up — they say — “oh no.  I want my fiance’s first view of me to be when I am coming down the aisle”.

Yup.  I TOTALLY get that.  And respect that.  and LOVE it if that’s what you want and choose to do…

But…if you are at all open to this — I want you to think about the advantages of a first look:

It’s yours.

You are not sharing it.  It is your day with your man (or woman).  It’s a moment that you DON’T share, except with each other.  You don’t have to think about your dad, or your mom, or all those people who love you who try to catch your eye as you walk down the aisle.

Nope.  It’s just you two.  Alone.

And it is breath-taking.  And quiet.  And soft.  And romantic.

THEN!

You have TIME.  For photographs…for time to breathe and laugh and play a little bit.

And here’s the biggest secret that no one really understands until you go through it –

When you come down the aisle and the music plays and everyone is crying…

You Forget the First Look Ever Happened.

You are IN THE MOMENT.

It’s Magical.

Then the OTHER magical part?  ALL YOUR PICTURES ARE ALREADY DONE.  You don’t have to make family and friends wait for you to go off somewhere — you’ve ALREADY DONE IT.

It’s efficient.  Which, really, is not a romantic word…but I can tell you that it makes your day smoother, less stressful, and fun.  And it gives your photographer time to do what you are PAYING THEM TO DO — which is take beautiful photographs of important people who love you and who you love.

I am a big supporter of First Looks.

But it’s, ultimately up to you.  I just wanted to give you something else to think about (and look at.)

…

So … Elyse and Josh had their First Look at…wait for it…the EXACT place they had their first kiss.

Perfection!

And then?  We had time to play and take cool pics.

Maybe just…think about it?

xoxo T

Are you doing family pictures?

Yes?

Okay.

Here’s my advice — whoever you choose for your photographer — BOOK the SESSION NOW.  Seriously.  If you have ideas of fall photos, holiday cards, your family with great colors outside — yeah.  You know what i’m going to say, right?

Limited.  Openings.

So…that being said — this family booked and we had a huge amount of fun running all over their house and yard and just PLAYING (cuz I LOVE to play!) and George (I maintain that “GEORGE” is the best boy’s name ever — just say it to yourself.  Right?  If I had thought of it then — my son TOTALLY would have been a GEORGE) kept me on my toes running ALL OVER.  OMG!  ::laughing::

And one small observation — if you made it down to the bottom of this post and didn’t get caught up in — HOW CUTE THESE CHILDREN ARE ::grin:: — I want you to see that you don’t always have to go to crazy locations for photographs – sometimes just playing in the yard makes the best place.  Right?

Then let me TELL you:

Jillian and Kevin are getting married in October.  In Hilton Head, SC.  Think that’s going to be amazing?!  yeah.  me too.  ::grin::

Kevin recently opened this super cool performance and repair shop called The Little Speed Shop — and it was the COOLEST location to shoot in…let’s see…I had a BMW…a Maserati…a workshop…yeah.  I was TOTALLY feelin’ it!  So we played.  And played.  And then the sun set in this amazing burst of color…

I felt like I was in a movie.  Right?

And it lends itself to the conversation about sessions.  Jillian and Kevin had a strong point of view from which they wanted the session to go — and that was unbelievably fun!  The more thought you put into a session (with me, fo course, never alone!) — the more personal it becomes.  It really is about you.  About what’s important to you.  And if the MOST important thing is that you are TOGETHER — then we’ll just wander around and find cool spots to shoot in.  That’s equally as fun too.  Just bring cool clothes.  And a Maserati.

I’m kidding about the Maserati.  I just like typing Maserati.  It’s even more fun to say…  (you know you just said it in your mind.  bonus if you said it outloud!)

Yeah.  It’s alllll good!

xo T

Jill and Andy are getting married next year.  Unfortunately for ME — I was already booked for their wedding date.   ::sniff::  But a really great photographer is photographing their wedding — so I still got to play by doing their engagement session.  I should also mention that Jill and Andy are BEST FRIENDS with one of my brides who will be on the blog later — so we already had a chance to interact at Beth and Marc’s wedding.  And they are as terrific and nice as they look.  Our session was plagued with drama — security guards!  yelling!  wind!  holes in the road!  drama!  ::laughing::  But we all brought our A game and didn’t let anything bother us — and the images are STUNNING.  Well.  Here.  You decide…

Right?!

Suzanne — you are AMAZING and I had so much fun yesterday!  xo T

Megan is allll about options.  She brought a terrific array of choices and we ROCKED it out!

Thanks Megan!