JOYCE AND BETH - ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

After shooting in Springerville on Wednesday, we headed back west for another day of shooting. Thursday found us at the Grand Canyon for Joyce and Beth's engagement shoot. You may recognize Joyce as she recently joined our team and is learning the ropes of the wedding industry. Before she began working with us however, she hired us to document her and her partner's own wedding - funny how life works out sometimes. The day was partially sunny and not all that bad as far as temperatures go in Northern Arizona during March, but there was one negative element to contend with - wind ... and lots of it!!! I swear, we thought at times that we might blow right off the edge into the canyon's great abyss :-).

Despite the wind, we had a fantastic time! The wind actually created some really unique images as you can see from this posting. Joyce, we give you props for possibly being the only woman to hike all over the Grand Canyon in high heals ... glad we didn't lose you :-). Beth, kudos for doing photos on the dead tree at the edge of the canyon at Yaki Point - we know that took a lot of nerve on your part. We hope you like the results and can't wait for the wedding in September!

ASHLEE - FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Last Wednesday we headed over to Springerville to photograph Ashlee for her First Holy Communion. For those of you who don't know where Springerville is, because we haven't run across many who do, it is a little blip on the map in Eastern Arizona on the New Mexica border.

Last year we photographed Ashlee's sister, Lacey, for the same celebration and as we got in our car to leave their mother, Leah, told us she would be calling on us same time next year. Well, sure enough she did and it was every bit as much fun as last year - though the weather was much nicer! Ashlee is quite the little character - full of attitude and spunk, and a pretty little girl to boot - but she knows when to be gracious and sweet as well :-).

Thank you Ashlee for being so great to work with! You took direction well and the results are beautiful!!! Thank you also to Leah for entrusting this very special occasion to us for a second time. We look forward to the family shoot this fall :-). See you then!

WPJA & [AG]WPJA QUARTER 4, 2007 CONTEST RESULTS

THIRD PLACE - CREATIVE PORTRAIT
Judges Comments: What I usually don't like in wedding pictures is that they are often too much orchestrated, organized. This is a really nice, natural, photojournalistic picture about daily life more than about wedding. There ia a story in the gestures, in the faces of the couple, in the open boxes on the bed, in the painting on the wall. Great Shot.

TWELFTH PLACE - DETAILS (FOUND)
Judges Comments: This detail of the bride's cross tells us something about her beyond the obvious and it's beautifully framed by their hands and the out of focus trees in the background, giving us a sense of place.

SEVENTEENTH PLACE - CEREMONY
Judges Comments: The look on the woman's face steals this image. Technically a little off in the printing (too light at top) but the look on the face makes up for all the other problems. Seeing the emotion and reacting to it is very important for the news photographer. It is what sets us apart.

NINETEENTH PLACE - RECEPTION
Judges Comments: Motion blur created in Photoshop is a hard thing to get exactly right. We really like the energy and angle taken by the photographer but the backs of the seats are too bright and compete with the subjects. A simple burn on the seats along with an overall contrast boost and you're good to go!

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We are super excited to announce that we received several awards in the Wedding Photojournalist Association's (WPJA) and the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association's ([AG]WPJA) quartly photo competitions! We were accepted to the WPJA back in late October which was both an honor and a thill in itself as they only accept a very small percentage of applicants, and those who are currently members are some of the best weding photojournalist in the industry today. This was our first chance to participate in their international competitions and it was really overwhelming to place in four categories, three in the WPJA and one in the [AG]WPJA. These contest attract very stiff competition, so we are very grateful to have placed among such amazing artists! And of course, we would like to extend our sincerest thanks to those couples who allowed us the freedom to create these images. Thank you Cameron and Joel, Jessica and Derek, Kristen and Tony, and Laun and Christa for trusting in us to document your wedding day - there is no greater pleasure for us!

COVER PHOTO - THE MAVERICK MAGAZINE

One of our natures images is featured on the cover of this month's edition of "The Maverick" magazine. "The Maverick" is a local publication of Arizona's White Mountain region. We are frequently featured on their covers and in periodic "how to" nature and travel photography articles and we will be sure to start posting those from now on so everyone can see the other side to our photographic work :-).