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Posts tagged photographer
Savannah’s Sr Pics
047 days
After a few months of communication with Savannahs mother, we finally were able to schedule a session. During the session I learned that I was photographing the busiest teenage in the world. I now realize now why it was difficult to schedule her photo session. We were fortunate to have decent weather during Savannah’s photo session. Winter weather returned during the few days following. We agreed to meet at Weymouth Center in Southern Pines, NC. Upon arrival I noticed that some tree removal was in process. With the heavy equipment on the grounds, plenty of photography locations remained for us to use. Best of luck to Savannah during her college career.
Tyler’s Cap and Gown Session
050 days
Tyler came to the studio Yesterday to have his cap and gown pics made. This was a short session, approximately 15-20 minutes. The guys prefer it this way and I don’t waste time getting several poses.
The cap and gown session fee is $15.00. I’ll photograph up to 5 different cap & gown poses. The proofs will be posted online for print and CD photo file purchasing. The CD ($35.00) will contain a high resolution file of all of the poses with copyright release for printing. You will need your own cap & gown set with applicable club sashes and stoles. Please call or email to schedule an appointment.
Aubrey’s Two Years Old!
052 days
This was Aubrey’s third session with me. She has always been very calm and provided some great posing for me. As kids get older and comfortable with the camera I can capture more and more moments. Aubrey was very entertaining and her personality shows in many of the photos. This session was just prior to her 2nd birthday. As usual, it was a pleasure to work with Aubrey and her family. Happy Birthday!!!
As usual;lSpring Bridal Show at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst
059 days
This was a fantastic event planned and the turnout was great! I was a bit worried that the cold, rainy weather would keep attendance low, but this worry was for nothing. The attendance was steady for the first two hours and several brides trickled in during the final hour of the event. I enjoyed speaking with dozens of potential new clients as they viewed my photo samples. I have photographed several events at the Fair Barn, but have never seen it setup in this format. The venue is very spacious and with all of the vendors, mingling brides and their guests it never seemed crowded. I am thankful for the invite to exhibit and look forward to next years bridal show.
Description
Built in 1917 for use at the Sandhills Fair, The Fair Barn is the oldest surviving early twentieth-century fair exhibition hall in North Carolina.
This beautifully restored barn is equipped with a state-of-the art kitchen, dressing rooms, and beautifully tiled restrooms. From receptions, concerts, exhibitions and seminars, The Fair Barn provides the perfect setting for any event.
For further information or to reserve The Fair Barn, please contact our Events Coordinator at:
(910) 295-0166
ahunt@vopnc.org
www.thefairbarn.org
A division of the Pinehurst Parks and Recreation department.
Kaitlin and Ryan’s Engagement Session
065 days
I’m looking forward to Kaitlin and Ryan’s May 2013 wedding day. If there engagement session is any indication of the fun that they will have on their wedding day, I would hate not to be a witness. I photographed Kaitlin’s sister’s wedding a few years ago and remember the family very well. Fun was had by all, including the photographer. I enjoy seeing people have a good time and I have no doubt that Kaitlin and Ryan’s wedding day will be very similar.
Emily Senior Portraits
079 days
Emily was kind enough to hang out and pose for several hours while I mentored another photographer. We met in downtown Raleigh to roam around and shoot under various lighting conditions. We ended the day of photography at nearby Pullen Park beside N.C. State Campus. As the day passed I learned that she had been in front of the camera many times per her mother’s request. I imagine that she has a great collection of photos documenting her youth. Best of luck to Emily as she continues her education in college next year.
Gearing up for a busy 2013 wedding year.
0103 days
by Jimmy McDonald
in Weddings
I am excited to have opportunity to capture and share special moments. I enjoy shooting portraits, wedding formals and candid during special events. My experience allows me to provide a valuable photography service.
Pricing a photographer is an important part of wedding planning. With many people in the field, finding an experienced photographer is sometimes more important than price. You want to make sure that the person with the camera has the knowledge and equipment to handle various situations and still capture the special moments of your big day. Whether your wedding party consist of 6 to 26 people, the time of coverage is what my fees are based on. A smaller wedding typically doesn’t result into less coverage time. I recommend that review my prices below as well as the pages about me and my experience.
A complete list of my wedding photography services with pricing is available HERE.
I am exhibiting at a few local Bridal shows and look forward to meeting several new Brides-to-be.
2/17/2013 – Belk Engagement Party – Rockingham – 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
2/24/2013 – Piedmont Bridal Show – Cole Auditorium, Hamlet – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
3/24/2013 – Spring Bridal Show at the Fair Barn – Pinehurst – 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Great advice from other wedding professionals.
118 days
by Jimmy McDonald
in Weddings
I do not usually link to other blogs here, but the following links are a must read for engaged couples planning their wedding day.
-The first has been a favorite of mine for years as I have seen “Uncle Joe” in action during several weddings that I have been hired to photograph.
“Why Hiring Uncle Joe to Photograph Your Wedding Isn’t Worth the Savings”
-The next link is very special since it does not come from another photographer. A wedding venue owner notes her reasons for hiring a professional photographer based on her experience with wedding events.
“Why You Never Skimp On Wedding Photography!”
-This article has some great advice on cost and what to expect regardless of the size of your wedding.
“There Is No Substitute For a Professional Wedding Photographer”
-This next link is a horror story from a couple who thought that they had hired a pro. This is a great reason why you should ask to see a recent complete wedding collection and printed samples from your photographer. BTW – I have a collection of my most recent work available for viewing HERE.
“My Wedding Photography Nightmare”
Here are the top 5 reasons for hiring an experienced wedding photographer: (From an article at Today’s Bride)
- A professional wedding photographer knows how to capture every single moment of your wedding in all its glory. They can give your photographs a polished look.
- An experience photographer should suggest some unique ways to photograph your wedding. For example they will assess the location and suggest good areas in which to take the photographs so that the scenery will enhance the images.
- If you are also employing a videographer then the photographer can take photographs that work well with the narrative and editing techniques chosen by the videographer.
- Your photographer will have different ideas on how your final images can be presented. It is your special day so let everyone know how beautiful you looked and fun the day was.
- Depending on your requirements then an experienced wedding photographer can usually bring along a second photographer so you can capture multiple angles, or at least recommend a photographer who they can work in tandem with to produce a great result.
Make sure you book your photographer well in advance. Just know that the best wedding photographers are being booked months in advance. Their reputation often precedes them and couples are clamoring to book their services. So get your date in early.
-This final link is my own two-cents about hiring a professional.
“Experience is important when hiring a wedding photographer.”
Congratulations to Cheanna and Brandon
0146 days
by Jimmy McDonald
in Weddings
I remember the spring evening when I received the first call from Cheanna concerning her wedding photography needs. I could tell in her tone that she was excited about getting married in November. The fact the her wedding venue recommended me, my website appeared first in her online search and I was planning to be visiting near her Wedding location during the wedding date was all of the confirmation that Cheanna needed to select me as her photographer. I enjoyed the meeting with Cheanna during the following eight months and my excitement grew as the big day grew near. As expected the wedding ceremony was great. I have to compliment the musician and vocalist who performed during the ceremony. They were both very good. After a great session of formals we traveled to Pinehurst to the Fair Barn to proceed with the reception. The decorations and food were very good as was expected. I was impressed with the many toasts and wonderful words that family and friends had to say about the newlyweds. The planning was very successful and I wish Cheanna and Brandon a very happy future together.
Congratulations to Amanda and Robert
0197 days
by Jimmy McDonald
in Weddings
After meeting with Amanda and Robert a few times, exchanging emails and several phone calls, I was looking forward to being part of their big day. Amanda and Robert chose a wonderful location or their wedding ceremony. The Hayloft in McLeansville, N.C. is a working farm that also hosts weddings and receptions. Although Hurricane Sandy had passed by the area a day prior, the conditions were near perfect for photography. Besides a few gusts of wind and a bit cooler than wanted temps, the day appeared to proceed as planned. Everyone was on time, the guests were very pleasant and there was a wedding coordinator handling the schedule. I enjoyed watching the family and friends hangout and enjoy the celebration. My favorite part of the day may have been the toasts. I enjoy the stories that people tell about the bride and groom during the receptions. i wish the best for Amanda and Robert.
Autumn’s Last Storm – Hinson Lake
0217 days
by Jimmy McDonald
in Fine Art
Another photography goal has been met. Our State Magazine selected one of my photos for their Tar Heel Image page of the November 2012 issue.
Hinson Lake is a beautiful place and I shoot portrait and landscape photos frequently at this location. I was lucky to catch this scene on a cloudy day. It’s one of my favorite landscape photos and have a print of this pic hanging in my office. This photo was submitted for the annual photo contest but didn’t win. However, I was excited when Our State contacted me in September wanting to use the photo in the November issue.
Our State is my favorite magazine and I’ve wanted to see one of my photos printed in this publication for a long time. My next goal will be to earn an assignment from Our State.
This scene and various others are available for print purchasing from my Website.
Autumn’s Last Storm – Hinson Lake, Rockingham, N.C.
The Rotary Lodge and Hinson Lake is open to the public. Rental fees and regulations are posted below on downloadable PDF files. Also, all reservations for the Rotary Lodge can be made through the Parks and Recreations Departmentlocated at Browder Park in Rockingham (910) 895-6810.
Hinson Lake is a lovely city park located within the city limits of Rockingham NC. The city has prepared almost 3 miles of walking trails looping around the lake just underneath a shady canopy of trees with numerous wooden bridges including one that is 300ft long with a nice gazebo in the middle Picnic tables and benches are located around the lake.
Hinson Lake hours of operation (Effective June 11th, 2010)
M-F 4pm- 8pm
Saturday 12pm-8pm
Sunday 1pm-8pm
(Hours of Operation contingent upon the weather and demand.)
Call Parks and Recreation for facility and equipment rental pricing at 895-6810.
Rules and Regulations for Rotary Lodge and Hinson Lake
Click here to download a map of Hinson Lak
152 Hinson Lake Road
Rockingham, NC 28379
11/2/2012- I received the following letter in the mail and it made my day!
NASCAR Returns to The Rock!
0399 days
by Jimmy McDonald
in Candid/Events
I was excited about helping the local newspaper photograph one of the biggest events to take place at the legendary Rockingham Speedway. The last NASCAR event at “The Rock” was a Cup Series race on Feb. 22, 2004. Current track owner, Andy Hillenburg, purchased the track at auction four years ago and has done an amazing job of restoring the track and promoting the return of NASCAR. This was the first Camping World Truck Series race to be hosted at Rockingham Speedway and I doubt that it will be the last. The April 15th event drew the second largest crowd of the season and fans were provided a great race. Congratulations to Kasey Kahne for winning the race, but the real winner is Hillenburg.
The Brinks family at OBX
0403 days
During a visit to the Outerbanks of North Carolina is was out during sunset capturing the clouds of a storm moving to the north. The wind was swift, but helped keep the storm away and let the sun peep in and out of the clouds. As I had my tripod positioned on a dock a gentleman approached me to ask question about photography. After a brief introduction and conversation about my setup he asked if I would be willing to shoot some photos of his children. Unfortunately it was too dark and I didn’t have my flash set up with me at the time. However, we made plans to meet the next morning for some photos on the beach. I was more than happy to spend some time shooting beach portraits of this family from Richmond VA.
Hanging out during the Belk “Engagement Party”
0462 days
I usually enjoy meeting new people and seeing familiar faces. Tonight provided the opportunity to do both. The Belk “Engagement Party” allows me to display some of my favorite wedding prints and speak with brides and grooms to-be about their wedding plans and photography needs.
Couples engaged to be married were invited to Belk store in Rockingham on Thursday, February 16, for a signature Engagement Party event that offers engaged couples a fun-filled evening with food, beverages, entertainment, and fabulous prizes. The event kicked off at 6 p.m. in the home department.
If you did not receive an invite and need to discuss photography for an upcoming wedding, I would be happy to meet and have a conversation with you. Meanwhile, my current wedding packages with pricing and links to prior wedding galleries can be viewed HERE.
Participating couples will receive a Wedding Registry Planner and those who open a new gift registry or add to an existing one will be entered into a drawing for the following prizes:
1. Two travel vouchers for airline tickets or a cruise ($1,200 value)
2. $1,000 in cash
3. One of five $1,000 Belk Gift Cards
Brandie and Houston
0519 days
Brandie and Houston drove from Greensboro one evening for their photos session. We met in Downtown Hamlet to shoot some couples photos for them. While we shooting some random shots on a set of railroad tracks a freight train slowly approached us and stopped. this could not have happened at a better time as if we had ordered it for the photo session. I enjoyed working with the couple and look forward to working with them in the future.
Congratulations to Tony and Levon.
0529 days
by Jimmy McDonald
in Weddings
This was my final wedding appointment of the 2011 year. Tony and Levon had a very brief but nice wedding ceremony. The smiles from all of the family members before and after the wedding were contagious. Tonys mother had some very nice comments about Levon that really warmed my heart. Watching people in some of their happiest moments makes me glad to be able to participate and captures memories for them on their special day. Best wishes to Tony and Levon.
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