La Roche Canillac, France

After 33 hours of travel; interrupted sleep on the plane, a taxi ride through Bastille weekend holiday traffic in Paris, a four hour ride on a train with stale warm air, and an exciting (and mildly horrifying) 45 minute drive through the hills France; I finally arrived at my destination. Nauseous, hungry, and tired, I was escorted into the Chateau for bread and soup. Feeling a little stronger, I went for a swim in the salt water pool. The water was cool and soft, incredibly rejuvenating. I felt better immediately.

What an incredible opportunity, I was able to stay in a house in the village that is nestled in the side of a hill. The village had a rich history and boasts spectacular views in almost every direction.

The pictures of the wedding speak for themselves: http://www.imagequix.com/photog.php?id=L93A19G&ec=bajer

As we travelled home, we had the opportunity to spend a day in Paris and see the sights. I could say so much more, but I will let the pictures do it for me.

The trip was a fabulous opportunity, the wedding was beautiful, the families were gracious hosts, and my traveling companions were entertaining and easy to be with.

Thank you, Paul and Kaytee, for allowing me to be a part of your wedding and giving me this amazing opportunity to see France!

Regrets

One of my greatest regrets was that I had not traveled more before my kids were born. We were paying off student loans and trying to buy a house. I never expected to be blessed with so many opportunities to travel as a stay-at-home mom. In the last two years, I have traveled more than in the 38 years prior.

I have taken two trips to Florida; a long weekend in Austin, TX; a rendezvous in Athens and Northern Greece; castles and churches in Germany; scuba diving in Mexico; and today I leave for France.

I only wish Polly were coming with us. My friend Polly died several years ago. I am privileged to take this trip in order to photograph her son's wedding in a small country village south of Paris.

Hopefully I will have photos and great travel stories soon...

I couldn't decide which thought-provoking quote to end this post with, so I chose two:

The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.
--Saint Augustine

Never take a cross country trip with a kid who has just learned to whistle.
--John Deuel

The Weather is Here...Wish You Were Beautiful

Cozumel

I don't think that anything I write can truly describe my experiences in Mexico. Rob and Bina were fantastic traveling companions -- fun and adventurous -- I can't remember the last time I laughed so much.

The weather was incredible (86 with scattered clouds every day). The people in San Miguel are friendly, helpful, and truly happy. Why is it that we Americans have so much but complain about everything; yet in other countries they have so little and are so content? I am going to work harder to incorporate their happiness and zest for life into my everyday.

We were able to snorkel right in front of the hotel, earned our SCUBA certification and completed 4 dives. Aqua-Safari was our dive shop. They kept us safe, confident and entertained.

The diving was incredible -- we saw many types of tropical fish. I was amazed at how big they were! The diversity we were able to see in just a few dives was amazing: a stingray as big as my dining room table, huge puffer fish, smiling green morays (one was 5 ft long), octopus, barracudas, sea horses (which are less than impressive, they kind of look like sea weed), a group of squid (Bina insists they were a family), just to name a few. We hired a guy to make a dvd of our dive -- he gave us an incredible souvenir. At one point in our dive, he was on the other side of the reef and found a 7 foot nurse shark. I know they are perfectly harmless, but I am glad I didn't see it. I probably would have panicked.

I'll leave you with the image I will always cherish...rows of hammocks on the beach of the Caribbean (or is it the Gulf?), good company, gentle breeze, a little shade, cold cervaza; and five minutes later, a beach massage for $8. As for the rest of the trip -- what happens in Cozumel, stays in Cozumel...

In less than a week I will embark on number 3 on my top 10 to-do list (refer to 8/20/07 post). Our friends Rob and Bina and Steve and I leave soon for Cozumel, Mexico for a scuba diving adventure. I am usually incredibly organized when taking a trip, but this on seemed to sneek up on me. I have been checking the weather -- here is a link if anyone is interested:
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/76649.html

I decided it would be blatant bragging to put the forecast here, so you can look it up if you are interested. I hope to try some underwater photography. It will be interesting to see how much different the light will be. I've also read that the deeper you go, you lose the color spectrum in ROYGBV order. I hope to see some cool reefs and tropical fish. I hope not to see any sharks.

At the very least, I'll be able to go outside without having to find my boots, hat, gloves, coat, etc.

Attn: Football Fans

My friend Anna came to me with an idea for a birthday present for her husband. He is a tried and true MSU fan. Being an MSU alumni, it wasn't hard for me to get into the spirit of the photo shoot.

What more could a loyal Spartan fan want -- cute babies that share his interests!!! Happy Birthday Dru!

Hey Anna -- when is he going to paint something in your new house Green and White?

What's New in Wedding Photography

I've recently attended several bridal shows and am always perusing photographers websites for trends and ideas. And here are what I've seen as the new trends in wedding photography.

1. Available light. Gone are the days of the huge flashes and perfect lighting. The trend is moving toward softer, more natural and romantic lighting. In order for these shots to maintain quality when enlarged, a photographer needs a lens that works in low light situations. Always ask your photographer about equipment! Digital cameras tend to be a little more inconsistent in creative lighting than traditional film. A good, experienced photographer can handle low light and available light with digital or film.

2. Digital. There are very few wedding photographers left who shoot with film. I believe the reasoning for this is two fold. First, it's what brides want. In our technological society, consumers demand the latest conveniences technology can offer. On-line proofing is a perfect example. No matter how far apart your family lives, everyone can see all the wedding proofs. Curious? Try this:

http://www.imagequix.com/
In the Event Guests - View an Event box type L93A19G for Photographer ID and click Submit Select Wedding of Marta and Alex
Select Enter Proof Viewer

The second reason digital is fast becoming the industry norm is the instant confidence a photographer has that a picture turned out. This confidence with film photography comes only with experience. Photographers also like digital because of the low cost. Film, processing and proofs cost for each shot. With digital, a photographer can shoot unlimited shots without increasing material costs.

3. Digitally enhanced photographs. From adding a splash of color to a B&W photograph, to completely altering the nature of a picture, digital art can add a new dimension to wedding pictures.


4. Umbrellas? Don't ask me, I am just reporting what I see. On-line, in professional photography magazines, in wedding photographer's samples, umbrellas are everywhere. The first one I saw was unique and unexpected in a wedding photo. The result was creative and fun. However, herein lies the problem with the Internet: everyone can see an idea and copy it. At the very least, it can take an element like rain and turn it it to a photo opportunity.

More than Meets the Eye

Important Things to Consider when Hiring a Wedding Photographer

When all is said and done, your wedding pictures are one of the only investments in your wedding budget that will last beyond your wedding day. Here are a few things to consider when choosing the photographer who will preserve your memories for you.

Style – There as many styles of photography as there are photographers. To be sure you get the coverage and quality you are paying for, make sure you see a full set of wedding proofs, not just a portfolio. Anyone can pick out a few great shots to showcase.

Freelance Photographers – Some studios employ a number of different wedding photographers. Be sure you are viewing the samples of the actual photographer who will be assigned to your wedding. Request to meet with the actual photographer who will be at your wedding.

Experience – In addition to viewing a photographer’s work, be sure to find out how long the photographer has been shooting weddings. It is important that a photographer knows how to deal with the intensity of a wedding and work professionally amidst the environment of emotion and excitement. Weddings create high pressure. An experienced photographer will be able to know exactly which pictures to take and when, ultimately giving better coverage.

Price – Wedding photographers will range in price from $500 to $5000 or more. Price does not determine quality. Larger studios have more overhead, and spend more on advertising. Also, make sure you are fully aware of how much additional pictures will cost for you and your family to order after the wedding.

Digital vs. Film – Digital is quickly becoming the norm in weddings. Digital offers many advantages, including on-line proofing, and more shots with less cost. Film still offers higher quality when professional format cameras and film are used.

Equipment – Ask about the type and quantity of cameras, lenses and lighting that will be used at your wedding. If pose shots are done indoors, more lighting should be used than just a camera mounted flash. If choosing digital photography, the photographer should use more than one camera and more than one memory card. If film is chosen, again the photographer should use more than one camera. Pricing should also reflect the type of equipment. The higher priced photographers should be using high-end digital SLR’s with multiple lenses or medium to large format film cameras.

For more information: www.Keepsake-Portrait.com