I’m going to be in New York City tomorrow (8.20) until next Tuesday (8.25) and will be limited in email/phone responses. If you have an inquiry or question please go ahead and email/call as usual, but if it is urgent please note “911″ in the subject header.
I’ll be photographing an awesome engagement session while I’m in New York and I can’t wait! I’ll definitely try to keep things updated on the blog and if you don’t follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you should go check it out and stay in the loop. Cheryl is coming with me this time so we’re going to make a little mini vacation out of it. Is there anything that we shouldn’t miss? We’ll be doing some shopping, some eating and seeing some sites, so if you have any ideas let me know in the comment section below. Thanks and check back soon.

Have you ever thought of having a friend shoot your wedding? Don’t worry, I’m not going to beat you over the head (like some) for saying yes. I totally understand if you might do such a thing do to budget or you just don’t care (well, i don’t really understand people that don’t care about photography). But here is an interesting take and side-by-side looks as to what you might get from an amateur/hobbyist wedding photographer and a professional wedding photographer who shoots for a living. Interesting read and photos to boot. Enjoy.

I love America and you should to. This is the greatest nation that has ever been in existence on this planet. I feel so grateful and thankful for the freedom that I have and for the fact that I was born and live in this country. If you live in this country and don’t feel/think the same, America is so awesome that we’ll let you stay, but personally I have no tolerance for you. If you are someone in Washington trying to take an inch of my liberty every time I turn around, I say go live under communism.
The great strength of our nations economy comes from the fact that men and women are free to be creative and rewarded for their hard work. The great might of our military stems from the fact that men and women love our country enough that they are willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of others. The reason we’ve remained free is that we understand the power of freedom. When a man is burdened by so many taxes and tariffs, his creativity and industry is stifled. When a woman despises the conditions that are placed on her to live and learn in a socialist society, she won’t take the time to teach her children the arts and instill values and morals in their lives.
Whether or not you voted for our President, whether you like him or not, I think we need to send a clear message to him and to our Congress. Leave our freedom alone. We are tired of being taxed for sleeping, eating, driving, texting, calling, twittering, and picnicking. We are tired of being regulated where we can live, ski, hike, ride a bike, etc. We are tired of you telling us that we can’t talk on our phones in our cars, what our kids can’t be taught in school, etc. I don’t want to buy an auto company or a bank with my tax dollars, don’t make me. I don’t want government mandated green energy initiatives, I want to create my own and implement my own. We are tired of the infringement of our liberties and being denied our freedoms Mr. President. Mr. Clinton couldn’t do it, Mr. Bush failed, what can you do?
I love the boldness of our country, but it is being stifled. I love the fact that in a tight economy I can build a business and grow prosperously. I just want it to remain the same for my children. I guess I’m a little bit old school but I hope you’ll give some thought to my humble opinion. To cap off the day, here is one of my favorite frames that I shot while in New York City last year. It is the flag that hangs from New York Fire Department Station #9. Big thanks to all of our servicemen at home and abroad, I love you guys and girls and think the world of you. Enjoy.

No moms, I’m not selling you short, nor am I being condescending or blasphemous. I truly believe that Father’s Day is the most important day of our Calendar Year. Christmas is a splendid time, but often overtaken by greed/keeping up with the Joneses and hectic schedules. Easter is a wonderful time, yet it has lost it’s true meeting and has been so “politically corrected” that it doesn’t bring the weight and conviction that it used to. Mother’s Day, aahhhh Mother’s Day. Moms should be celebrated everyday!
The reason why I chose Father’s Day as being more “important” than Mother’s Day is not because one is better than the other or more worthy of having a holiday. The reason comes from deep thought on the decay of our once great society. Fathers are the lifeblood of any great society, they are the leaders of morality, the defenders of good, the protectors of the innocent and the strong back which our country rests upon. They represent the tipping point in our society. I’m not just making things up, there are a ton of statistics out there to prove my discourse. When the father is gone, the decay of a family sets it. Fathers were designed to protect and provide for their families like nobody else. Moms were not designed to do so, kids were not designed to do so, big brothers were not designed to do so. I know that these statements aren’t very politically correct, but allow me to express the value of fatherhood.
If there is one element that is missing in our society that is leading to the decay of our society, I believe it is the father in the home. My heart goes out to single moms who are working, going to school and trying to make ends meet. My mom was one. But I see the void in those families, I’ve even felt it, and it hurts my heart to know that there are millions of kids who will never feel the reassurance that a father in the home can bring.
I don’t apologize for saying any of this and I hope nobody is offended or hurt by my sentiments. I just wish that we would teach our boys to be men and one day to be real fathers. I wish that chivalry would make a triumphant return. I wish that our society would hold fathers accountable to the lives that they brought into existence. My dream is for a dad to be there for every little girl who wants to learn how to ride a bike. My hope is for a daddy to be there when every little boy wants to learn how to throw a baseball.
You’re reading words from a dad who didn’t always have a dad in the house. I love my dad, I’m going out to dinner with him in just a few hours actually and I’m glad that he’s there for me now and more importantly for his grandkids. If you’re a dad and you’ve messed up, it is never too late to make it right. It might be a hard road but it is worth. Me and my dad enjoy one of the best relationships today because he made the effort to be my dad. Being a “dad” is not just a word, its a way of life.
And so I share some photographs of fathers from some recent weddings. These photos mean a lot to me. They are the reason I do what I do. Enjoy.

I love to read and I love to read things that make sense. I saw a great article on my friend Becker’s blog (who I’ll be shooting with later this month) and thought I would share it with everyone as well. There are some great points in here and if you’re one of my current brides you’ll probably see a lot of the same things that I have in my Wedding Photography 101 handout. Make sure you take some time to read things like this in your planning process, it will help make the day of your dreams perfect. Now I gotta get out of here and go shoot a wedding. Enjoy.

Awesome Advice on Hiring a Wedding Photographer