Family Olympian

This post is totally not wedding related, but I had to brag! My cousin, Jamie Beyerle, had the honors of representing the United States in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. How awesome is that?! While she did not medal, she came very close, twice and got a personal best. I am very proud of her! Here are some news clips about her and her sport (I know nothing of her sport, so it'll be more accurate coming from the news than from me):

BEIJING, China (August 9, 2008) The first day of the shooting competition at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China was contested Saturday with Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) and Jason Turner (Rochester, N.Y.) turning out impressive performances, each finishing in the fourth spots in the respective events.

In Women’s 10m Air Rifle, Beyerle claimed fourth place, barely out of medal contention, shooting a qualification score of 397, a final score of 102.8 for a total of 499.8.

This is the best I have shot since the World Cup USA last year, so I am really happy with it, Beyerle said following her fourth place finish.

BEIJING, China (August 14, 2008) Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) barely missed out on earning a spot on the medal podium today in the Women’s 3 Position Rifle event. Beyerle entered the final with a score of 586, just three points out of first place, which was held by China’s Du Li. Despite shooting an excellent final score of 100.9 and standing in second place overall going into the final shot, Beyerle fired a score of 8.7, which wasn’t enough to land her on the podium and she finished in fifth place with an overall score of 686.9.

It was a great match. I am disappointed, but to finish in fifth place isn’t bad and its really been a great experience overall shooting at the Olympics Beyerle said.

Some random site also named Jamie one of the top 26 Hottest US Olympic Women: Campus Squeeze

Keep an eye out for this girl in the 2012 Summer Olympics! I know she'll be kickin' some arse! Hopefully I'll be in London to watch it!

Must Take Photo - Take 2

In continuation of "must take photos"...

Must Take Photo - Take 1

KIDDIES! How cute are kids?! With our guest list being itty bitty, we don't have many children attending our wedding, but there will be one or two.

knottie: mrslaker

knottie: msmoore27

See the lil' boy in the upper right corner...yikes! If ya gotta go, you gotta go!

knottie: Mrs.Schenkertobe

photographer: Stefanie Riedel
I absolutely love this, German and Japanese garb.

I only have one more request for my "must take" photos...but it's a biggie and can be broken down into sub topics...

DETAILS!
Invitations. I worked sooo hard on these, there better be a good photo of them, damnit!

knottie: Mrs.Veroni

Rings.

unknown

knottie: MauidAims

Venue. I picked my venue because it is beautiful, I want to reflect that in my wedding photos.

knottie: girlinthemoon

knottie: Mrsailinamei

knottie: MrsJohnny

Decorations/Ceremony Set-up.

VintageGlam

knottie: ksirish

knottie: Mrs.Veroni

unknown

knottie: MrsNFB


knottie: Mrs.Schenkertobe

And that's what I call a "must take photo" list.

Must Take Photos

Most brides seem to have a loooong list of "must take" photos for their photographer. It usually looks like this:

Zipping up or buttoning the wedding dress
Bride looking into a mirror
Bride and bridesmaids putting on makeup
Groom tying tie
Groom looking into mirror
Portrait of father and bride
Portrait of mother and bride
Outside of ceremony site
Bridesmaids walking down the aisle
Flower girl and ring bearer walking down aisle
Groom waiting for bride
Close up of bride, just before she makes her entrance
Bride and father walking down aisle
The back of bride and father walking down the aisle – with the groom waiting in the distance
Shot of the audience from the bride and groom’s point of view
Close up of bride and groom saying the vows
Wide shot of bride and groom saying the vows
Close up of hands
The kiss
Bride & Groom walking up the aisle
Guests throwing confetti/rose petals/birdseed
Bride alone
Groom alone
Bride with Maid of Honor
Bride with bridesmaids
Bride with parents
Bride & Groom together
Bride & Groom with parents
Bride & Groom with families
Bride & Groom with entire wedding party
Bride & Groom with flower girl and ring bearer
Groom with parents
Groom with groomsmen
The getaway
etc.
etc.
etc.

I'm sorry, but as a photographer, paying a photographer thousands of dollars for his expertise in shooting weddings, this should be common sense for him. "Bride and Father walking down aisle, Bride and Groom together, Bride and Groom with families....." duh! Please don't insult your wedding photographer by giving him a list like this. Now, if he asks for a list, that's a different story. I also believe that you are paying money for your vendor's experience and expertise and I feel that a long list like this deteriorates the artists creativity. Now don't get me wrong, if you've see a photo you've seen another photographer do and would like to mimic it or are inspired by it, that's a different story. For example, my list of "must take photos":

First sight: I plan on seeing my groomie before we officially wed and would like to capture our "first meeting".

Knottie: MrsPinkAJV&M

Knottie: Jen&Len

Fun group photos! Instead of everyone just standing on the stairs of the church.

Knottie: Daffodil_Jill

Knottie: MrsPinkAJV

wedlog

Knottie: RR&RB

Knottie: ilovemycoastie3

Group shot of the WHOLE wedding, guests and all! Since I'm having a small wedding I would like to have a group photo with everyone in attendance. Great for thank you cards later!

unknown

Knottie: MrsNFB

Knottie: cassiopia610

to be continued...

Picture time! Picture Time!

Source

I know I've been MIA for awhile, but I'm back into the wedding planning. Wedding Hiatus is done...for now. So onto one of my favorite things...Photography! I researched wedding photographers before we even knew where we were getting married. Honestly, that was one of the reasons why I wanted to get married in Hawaii. The wedding photographers in PA just weren't cuttin' it for me.

Before I begin with all things wedding, let me give you a background in my photography expertise. I've enjoyed photography for as long as I can remember. I actually can remember being in a dark room at age 8, not really knowing what I was doing, but it was fun. As a young kid in the 80's my photography skills was pretty much how to push a button on a point and shoot camera. Growing up in a military family, I got the opportunity to see many (and live in many!) countries as a child. My dad was an intermediate-novice (oxymoron?!) photographer and had a manual Minolta SLR camera; he would document our travels. His camera would end up to be my first SLR camera.

I took photography classes in high school and LOVED it. My senior year I went to a full-time vocational school and studied photography and videography. I continued to study photography at Antonelli Institute after high school. I have worked in a photography studio, a lab, even worked at my old vocational school as an assistant in the photography program there. I went into the Air National Guard, at first as a graphic artist but later changed AFSC (jobs) to photography. So, photography is one of my main priorities in my wedding planning (besides marrying Mr. Mek, of course!).

Now I must admit, I am being very picky about my photography. I've done my share of weddings in the past and let me tell you, it takes a special person to do wedding photography! Just because someone knows photography, it doesn't make them a wedding photographer. I personally hate shooting weddings, as do most of my photography friends. Things I am looking for in my wedding photography: leading lines, interesting angles, depth of field, vibrant colors. I wanted someone who can take great candids (photojournalism style) but could also direct posed shots. I wanted something more than the poopy family photos inside a church.

I had narrowed it down to two photographers.
Frank Amodo

click on image for bigger image

and Shawn Starr

click on image for bigger image

Both photographers have an impeccable eye for art! I had a hard time choosing between the two..who did I pick for our special day?! Guess you'll have to wait till March to find out!

What factors did you have in choosing your photographer?