My 9-hour drives to PA are made a lot more enjoyable by my satellite radio. Last week as I was driving home I was channel surfing and came across a talk show where they were discussing how to avoid the high cost of professional photography for a wedding. Basically the dilemma was how to get high quality, artistic, out-of-the-box different, reliable service…without actually paying much for it. Callers talked about their experiences using a friend, an art or photography student, a hobbyist, or someone who does it on the side without a registered (ie, tax paying) business. Several said they were thrilled with their choices, and some said they were sorely disappointed.

Let me say that I am in a fairly contemplative mood nowadays, as I just had another birthday and we are preparing to move into our dream home in just over a week. But I feel like I just have to share my thoughts on this topic, as it is a question that I myself struggled with as a young mom – why custom photography?

I have always loved photography, even more so when I had children and wanted to capture my wonder at their beauty and their personalities. I knew I didn’t want to forget any of it. I spent so much time trying to breathe in the moments, burn what they were like into my memory forever. I seriously did not believe that I would ever forget the way they looked, sounded, smelled, laughed. I almost didn’t even bother labeling the backs of photographs with dates and ages – I knew that I would instantly remember what age they were in those images, and where it was taken and why.

I was pretty good with a camera, and I was proud of a lot of the images I captured of their sweet faces and expressions and little outfits. I got lots of fun photojournalistic shots that I thought were very cool. I didn’t feel like I needed to spend money on custom photography when I took such great pictures, and besides, there were cute outfits to buy.

Well here it is, nearly thirty years later. The girls are grown, and I’m a nanna. I have been packing up old photo albums and scrapbooks for our move and have had some very sweet moments looking through them. But my underlying thought when I look at them is a feeling of a job not quite complete, and certainly not worthy of its goal of capturing my children completely and beautifully.

What I didn’t realize is that my “mommy goggles” colored the greatness of those pictures I took. At the time, my heart filled in the slight blur, the poor color, the over or underexposures. All I could see were my kids, like a mom views a child’s crayon drawing with pride because her darling produced it. And guess what? The memories do fade. I have to try to decipher an unmarked photo – sometimes I can’t even tell which baby it is!

I want to encourage all of you to take lots of photos, learn all you can about photography, document every happy moment. But I also want to share my experience with you in the hopes that you will not repeat my misguided mistakes. Especially in this economy it is important to cut back on unnecessary expenses, and certainly custom photography is a luxury. But I will tell you that it is one luxury that I wish I would have dedicated more resources to. I always managed to buy them cute clothes that are now so forgotten that it isn’t even funny. I took them to chain store studios to save money, but those images of them with giant bunnies for Easter are not something I would display in my home as art now. How I wish I would have supplemented my own pictures with professional ones!

Over the next few weeks I will be writing about all of the things that make custom photography worth it – and why it costs what it does. I don’t want to convince you just because I’m now a professional photographer (!). It’s because I want to make sure that you don’t have the same sense of loss that I do when the day comes that you have to pack up your own albums. And that day will come faster than you can believe possible.

(Anderson SC photographer, Lake Keowee Photographer, Washington PA photographer)

Amy & her mom managed to combine her senior picture session with me here in SC and a trip to check out Clemson as a potential college choice. Clemson didn’t really appeal to her as much as she’s thought it would, but boy am I glad I got to do her pictures!!! I seriously was blown away by how natural she was in front of the camera, and oh those blue eyes and perfect smile! I could post dozens, but I’ll try to restrain myself….!

It’s that time of year! Katie & her mom came from Pittsburgh to my SC digs to get her senior pictures done, because she didn’t want hers to look like everyone else’s. She didn’t want that same tired pose of a senior staring wistfully out of a window – she wanted to BE outside for her shots! And so we were…

My sister & her husband & daughter visited us this past weekend, and I persuaded my niece Chelsey to help me add some "trash the prom dress" images to my website. We had a bright sunny day in the 60′s to help make the cold water a little less uncomfortable, but she was a real trooper and never complained. We were quite a sight on the Leisure Trail in Keowee Key…I’m sure you don’t see a gorgeous girl on the beach in a formal dress very often there! My camera just loves this girl, and I got sooo many beautiful images. I think I’m going to have to get a canvas of one of these; the problem is, I can’t decide which one!

It has been cold & rainy for days, so I decided to try this new recipe for minestrone soup that I found on the internet. I like to keep soup on hand during the week – besides being an easy light meal when Jim gets home from work late, it is really a good thing for weight control since I can have a bowl of it instead of something fattening. So I made it yesterday in the crockpot (dumped everything in after I sauteed the veggies), and it is just delicious! (I left out the pasta since I am watching every calorie). It made A LOT, so I froze half of it which suits me fine. If you don’t use a crock pot, it takes about 90 minutes to simmer up. I made it exactly like the recipe, except I used frozen spinach instead of fresh, and dried oregano instead of fresh (but luckily I had some fresh basil, which really made it good!). I think the red wine is key, too…really gave it richness. Try it & let me know if you loved it as much as I did!

JAMIE’S MINESTRONE
3 T. olive oil                      1 can kidney beans, drained
3 cloves garlic, chopped        15 oz can green beans
2 onions, chopped                2 c. baby spinach, rinsed
2 c. celery, chopped        3 zucchinis, quartered & sliced
5 carrots, sliced                  1 T. chopped fresh oregano
2 c. chicken broth                2 T. chopped fresh basil
2 c. water                          salt & pepper to taste
15 oz can fire-roasted
    diced tomatoes               1/2 c. seashell pasta
26 oz can tomato sauce       2 T. grated parmesan
1/2 c. red wine

1. In a large stock pot over med-high heat, heat olive oil & saute garlic for 2-3 min. Add onion & saute 4-5 min. Add carrots & celery and saute for 2 min.

2. Add chicken broth, water, red wine, tomatoes & tomato sauce, bring to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and add kidney beans, green beans, spinach, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt & pepper. Simmer 40 min, the longer the better, until veggies are tender.

3. Cook pasta – spoon a few tablespoons into bowls & ladle soup over. Sprinkle Parmesan on top. Spray w/ olive oil on to & serve.

Is that a word? Well it should be, because it’s how I describe these girls! Their mom had been planning on calling me for a session for them as soon as they were all done with braces, but then she realized I had moved. No problem – I had to make a trip back to PA anyway, and we were lucky enough to have some snow at the same time which ALWAYS makes for great images. Taylor & Carly were really good sports in the freezing cold (it was like 20 degrees for these) – they are true naturals in front of the camera. I love all of their images, but I’m restraining myself from posting all 50.

My New Year’s Resolution to eat less junk food, that is. But oh so worth it! The whole world looks better.

Just go get these. Right now. If it’s not convenient, order them online here