Brides Magazine/WPJA contest '09

I'm terrible for missing contest deadlines.. here's a good reason to make myself do the right thing and enter.. I just might place an image.


I have much love for this image, as it's a coming of age dialogue, telling of childhood, growth, relationships... inside a wedding story. Like a story within a story within a story.. my favorite! Simply complex.

Raleigh area ad

For the first time ever, you can find us in the Weddings Magazine for the triangle area.

Special thanks to Katie and Jordan, whose images we used for the ad. You two are gorgeous together!

darkroom dreams

For some crazy reason, I dreamt about the darkroom last night. It was so vivid, in it I told John b&w only because color printing is a pain in the booty (and you have to work in a pitch-dark room, worrying only about the color, getting the color right, testing for gray...oh, this makes me upset just considering it). Besides, I am all about the black and white.

I was so psyched, as soon as I remembered it, I really did have the conversation with John! And he said he would make me one, anything I wanted. Yes, I really am so spoiled... Hurrah!

Which is wicked cool because that means we'll make the basement into a darkroom instead of a studio/office like he's been pushing. I really hate the thought of meeting people under the house, like some kind of troll, haha! But working on prints! I'm so excited I can't stand it!

There's something about the process... the effort of putting light to film, of exposing a roll, even winding it back up. The little container that you 'agitate' for so many seconds (60? been too long!) and then hang to dry the film... careful, don't want any dust! And then the amber glow of the print room, trays of chemicals, the scent, the magic of image appearing on blank paper, burning just so, dodging here and there! Oh, so much fun! I love it.

On a nearly unrelated note, I need a White Stripes Diana, to match my Holga.
That is all. :)

Christmas Booking Sale!

John and I want to give you a present...book us for your 2008 wedding between now and December 31st and receive 10% off our regular rates and a 4x5 album!
Many blessings,

new blog

So...hope you like the new look to our blog! I really wanted to show my images larger, and de-clutter a bit. See post above! Stay on the lookout for a header
^^ way up top ^^, and some new features to get you blog stockers to speak up. Glad to have you, but comment already!
We're also expecting a new website soon...well, OK, after Christmas sometime. But I'm excited! My current one is definitely beautiful, but completely unreliable for some reason. Some days it's up, sometimes the email works, sometimes that contact form goes into oblivion. With the new site I won't have to depend on the current hosting site. FREEDOM! yay!

So..if I don't answer your emails... call me! 919.601.0105 :)

price change

Hello out there! Just a note into the abyss of the internet...

Our new 2008 pricing has begun. If you received our price sheet in the last month, and are considering booking, we will honor the old rates through October 20.

While on the subject of business, For April 08, I have the 5th available. I am NOT taking any other bookings for May 08. I'm full!

Get with me ASAP about those old rates...

We Cruised...

and now we're back.
I did not realize how much I missed Florida.. the sweetly scented air, the humidity balm to my skin, the water soothing to my soul.

(I used to unsuccessfully write poetry. ;)

Our seven day cruise was supposed to be to Cozumel, and Ochos Rios. Another port, too. The hurricane rerouted us to San Juan



and to St. Thomas






Halfmoon Cay (private)


note: we used an underwater camera with actual film for this island... what crap! this was the best stop of all the stops. It was just paradise and wicked hot. I have the best tan of my life from this island. And also burned my scalp (hence dorky hat)">

and Nassau.




Who could complain?

I am kicking myself for not taking more pictures. It was just so relaxing and refreshing...I am so excited to pick my camera back up and dive back into wedding work!
I'm back if you need me!

Out of Office

We'll be on vacation until the last week of August. If you need John or I, please call 910.494.6297. I'll be checking email only sporadically.

And when I get back, I'll blog some new weddings. :D

Be blessed,
Lacey

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone's got great plans for tonight! Us? well, the kids are at Grandma's. John and I have been enjoying each other for a change. We ate out a few times... we shopped... we talked... we lounged. I am getting caught up on work, too.

New blog... what do you think? I figured it was time to completely ditch the fairy tale name, and make use of my own! And why not a fancy new look? Of course I fudged with it, and now it doesn't fit right over there>>>> on the right.

Hope you're having a happy 4th!

Email Woes

Heads up to all my current and potential clients, as well as any vendors trying to reach me. I am NOT receiving all my email-- I've had two reports over a two week period, and it seems very sporadic, with some reaching me but not all.
Please, please call me at 910.494.6297 if I have not responded to an email from you. I am very punctual about responses, so if it's been more than 24 hours, you know I have not gotten your email.

I am working with my web hosts to see what they can do.
Thanks for your patience.

WhatTheDuck?

To think there might be photographers out there like that...heh heh heh.

In other news (ok, I admit I just wanted to babble at you all) we have opened up 2008 booking and for 07 we are looking for November and December clients only.

Also...looking for clients who want engagement sessions at the fair this year, and/or other industrious, exciting and unusual locations (have to have some secrets of course!).
We are interested in brides who would like to take more adventuresome pictures in their bridal attire...after their wedding.
Also we are offering Sexy Sessions, too, for surprise pictures for your spouse. We do have experience and portfolio work is available to view on request.

Are you all enjoying spring? It is getting so beautiful here! John and I have made huge plans to actually plant a yard in the back, and do some landscaping in the front, with longterm goals of building a separate office/studio space to the left of the house. For now John has built two pergola (arbors?) on either side of the go-cart path. Way cool. He's amazing.

A Friend's Booking

Last weekend I had the unique experience of second shooting. I haven't done that in, oh, 4 years? The booked photographer, Summer Gibbs, is so sweet. I'd work with her again at the drop of a hat.

Why did I work with her? Because she needed me to. Sometimes I have clients who wonder (and it is a most-excellent question, too!) what happens if I'm sick. Or, if you book my husband, too, and the kids come down with something. This is a great example; what happens is I call one of the wonderful men and women also in this field who I have networked with, and they eagerly help. The one thing I can say is that the best photographers do this because they LOVE taking pictures. Though we are small business owners, and the perks are few...and sometimes the business becomes more of a passionate obsession then it should...when we miss our kids soccer games, or helping out with PTA, or not so many nights out with the girls...when we get secretary spread from sitting at the office chair hours on end digitally perfecting pictures, researching new techniques, and, well, networking, and then our eyes get all strained and squinty and our hands get tendinitis from constant use...it's something like breathing in the end. You just gotta. And if someone asks you to help, you say yes because of course you want to shoot anyway...
Well, you get the idea. I helped because I was glad to! Thanks Summer. :)

New Site!

OK! I'm done. Well, still no bio picture. Sit still, it's a-comin'. :)

So, is live! Go check it out!

PS...did you get the newsletter with tips, clients, and the scoop on why we changed things?

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