Mark Tyoe - Poconos Photographer

Last week we spent the entire week at the GDS fair in Newfoundland Pa. This is our second year here, in the same spot, and as we set up, we noticed the spot across from us was empty. We had hoped that this meant that the previous year's entertainment was there again. On Wednesday morning Mark pulled in. We were glad to see him. Mark is a champion chainsaw carver. He is part of the Masters of the Chainsaw. The fair brings him in to entertain the crowd, then his pieces are all sold or auctioned. This money then goes back to the fair.

To watch him is unbelievable. Ed and I sit there at the beginning of each show, and try to guess what he is carving. He always draws a large crowd. There are people who find a seat an hour before he starts, and will sit there from start to finish.

In between shows, Mark comes over to hang out with us and we get to know him a little bit. We chit chat about our kids, our families, business and anything else we can think of to pass the time.

I wanted to blog about him today because I was editing my images from the fair. These are just fun shots that we take while we are sitting there. The detail in Mark's pieces are something you have to see in person. If you are ever in the Adorondacks in New York, look for his store. You will be amazed by what you see!
This one was my favorite!

More of Mark's work can be seen on his website; http://www.wintergreenknoll.com/

Edwards Family Reunion - Moscow Photo Booth

Once a year, my family gets together for a reunion. Its always the same Saturday, at the same time, in August. Its always a covered dish lunch, followed by some games, and sometimes a baseball game across the street at the school, and always visiting with people that we haven't seen since last year's reunion. This year, I brought along the photo booth for some extra fun!

Candy - Scranton Senior Photographer

Candy came to us for a senior session. She loved the water images that we had done over the summer, and was looking for something different. Something that her whole class was not going to have. We started out indoors, in the studio, for some traditional shots. We then moved to our secret location for some fun images. Candy was a little hesitant to get in the water at first, but when she saw one of the images, she was a trooper, and continued the shoot, and did pretty much anything we asked her to do! She did a great job!

Sun and Sand Photography - Destin, Florida Photographer

This week, I'm not going to write about me or our business. This week Im going to write about my friend, Amy, from Sun and Sand Photography.
Sun and Sand Photography is an awesome photography studio in Destin Florida. She specializes in family beach photography and wedding photography. Her work always has such a light and airy feel to it.

I met Amy a few years ago in Oklahoma, where we both attended a photography workshop. There was a freak snowstorm while we were there. We got hit with 7 or 8 inches of snow in one day. To us Northerners, it seems like nothing. But, Amy had ever seen snow before. She spent the entire afternoon out in the snow, making snow angels, and a snowman; playing like a little kid. I could tell then that she loved to have fun. If I ever make it down to her neck of the woods again, I'd love to have her do my family's portraits.

This week instead of me talking about my business, I'm interviewing Amy; to talk about her business.

 What made you decide to persue a career in photography?
I work full time in a resort town. I had this moment of realization that instead of working for “the man” I should take advantage of our gorgeous coast and snowy white sand… I love interacting with people and I thought that my photography skills were pretty good - so why should I sit behind a desk at a hotel!? Thus Sun and Sand Photography was born.

Most of your clients are from out of town or out of state. How does this work as far as proofing and purchasing?
This has been the most difficult part of our business. Believe it or not working my website and tweaking my SEO to get clients to find us has been the easy part. Because our clients are here for a short time they aren’t interested in taking ANOTHER day out of their vacation for proofing. We tried last year to do this – hoping that the excitement of the photos would entice them to have a larger order. Guests just want to relax and want to see their proofs at their leisure.

How has the oil spill affected your business?
The oil spill hit our area hard and Sun and Sand Photography was not immune. It’s like we are in our first year again! We aren’t getting as many bookings and even less inquiries. Our business has been trending up each year but between the “economy” and the spill… it’s been hard.

What was the most fun you had at a shoot?
How can we not have fun at the beach!? Honestly, the most fun I had was when we were shooting a couple that booked a session just because. We do so many families and children on the beach – this was just a couple down for their 13th wedding anniversary. They are child free and are so in love. It was so fun to work with them.

If you could tell your brides one thing, what would you say? Relax! It IS all about YOU and your images will reflect that.

What was your most embarassing moment at a shoot?
Ahhhhh… when I sat down in the water thinking – hey my client’s doing it, why can’t I?! Well – I shouldn’t have because my iphone was in my back pocket… It was a sad day.

How do you deal with inclement weather?
When clients book us we insist on 2 things – to schedule our shoot on their first free day – maybe the second. Although clients want to be “tanned” – it always turns out that someone is sunburned and there is someone so tired of the sun and sand that they aren’t very happy – AND we need a couple of days to be able to reschedule in case of rain! Although, we have shot in the rain before!

What is the biggest challenge you face as a photographer?
Confidence. Sometimes I spend too much time looking for approval from my peers instead of forging through with my own ideas and my own work.

What is your favorite image?
I have so many… I have photographed some other photographers and I have really really loved a lot of those images. I think my favorite one is just because we were in the right place at the right time… we have a family on the beach next to a neat little beach shack and a gorgeous rainbow in the background. Just awesome.

What are some tips that you would give someone wanting to do outdoor portraits?
Turn off the flash!!! You, the photographer – put the sun at your back – the colors and exposure will be so much better.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I see Sun and Sand Photography being a known name in every household in America! Ha! I do see my husband Thomas and I working our photography business full time. That’s my dream.

Name one thing that you wished you knew before you started?
To invest in the right equipment the first time. Don’t start out cheap. Save up and get the equipment you need.

You can see more of Amy's work at http://www.sunandsandphotography.com/

Antiqua + Tyrone - Poconos Wedding Photographer

We have so many awesome couples that book us for weddings that it's hard to pick a favorite. Antiqua and Tyrone are right up there on the list.

Antiqua found us through the PPA last year. She had heard some horror stories about wedding photographers and I think she was a little nervous when she met us. By the time our meeting was over, she seemed to be more relaxed with us and didn't hesitate to say yes to booking with us.

They live in NYC, so we kept in contact via email for the winter and booked an engagement session for late spring/early summer.

Although the weather man was calling for rain the day of the wedding, it held off until after we got inside for the reception. We LOVE overcast days for shooting! Antiqua was gorgeous, and absolutely beamed as she walked down the isle.

After the ceremony, we dragged them up to the basketball court for some fun shots of just them.

I know Antiqua and Tyrone will be very happy together. We loved working with you and hope to do so again!

Jackie - Moscow / Scranton Maternity Photographer

We don't get to shoot maternity photos very often, so we put out a casting call through facebook to get some models. Jackie was the first to make an appointment. We had just finished painting some new backgrounds the night before, and got this one hung up just seconds before she got here.

Jackie brought her hubby with her. He was a great sport about it all and even got in some of the shots. They both did an awesome job!

Leann and Jake - Wilkes Barre Photo Booth

Leann called us from Chicago to book her photo booth. She was coming home to get married and thought the photo booth would add to the fun of their big day. They were such a fun couple! I wish they had found us sooner and we were their photographer too. We had an awesome time. Jake's best friend, who is overseas, was in the booth, via his mom on skype. haha