Pinterestify Your Wedding

I scour current wedding blogs for video editing inspiration. Just yesterday, I came across a post where the bride used a physical mood board while planning her wedding. On these boards, brides paste actual photos and magazine clippings of flowers, hair designs, dresses, even color swatches.

I'm a Pinterest addict like the next person as seen by this picture (my "For Satisfying My Muse" board, and yes, Jason Statham has made an appearance). And so, in today's modern technological world, brides can create their mood boards with a site like Pinterest.

Instead of bringing the same fabric swatches and having the same discussions with each of your wedding vendors, bring it all to one place for them to see. Create a wedding board and fill it with your vision for your wedding day. You can even find color palettes on Design Seeds to pin to your wedding board.

Happy pinning!

Uniquely You.

There is a carnival trend currently influencing the way we photograph engagements, weddings, and maternity sessions. For me, a circus has little to do with the feelings surrounding getting married or having a baby. Instead, let capturing these moments be an expression of uniquely you! To the right is one great example of a fun save-the-date video by Belvedere Stories.

It's also not everyday a couple plans outfits and locations for an engagement shoot inspired by the TV show Mad Men. Seeing how others have kept true to the individual in spite of the over-saturation of a trend has inspired me to create images that are unique to each of my clients.

I thank those who currently do this. To the rest of you looking to have moments captured and those who immortalize these moments in photo or video, I challenge you to find what makes you and your clients unique. All this so you can look back and see what you were thinking and feeling at the time. And if the carnival is you, then by all means, let it fly! Need ideas? Think of those things that inspire you, the things you enjoy, the things that move you.

Norman Rockwell

Steve and I had a wonderful visit with part of our family in Pennsylvania. We had a scrumptious lunch with Korey, Sarah, and August at the Allegheny Grille overlooking the (wait for it) Allegheny River. The grown Defibaugh children wanted to surprise their parents with family photos for Christmas, so after shoveling in the most wonderful food, we used the Grille as the backdrop for our photos. Everyone had a grand 'ol time, including me. I could tell from behind the camera how deep their loyalty and love for each other runs. Merry Christmas to you all!

Giggles and LOLs

You know what's better than a sudden dusting of fresh snow? Three children who make you laugh so hard that you have trouble keeping the camera steady. I present to you Miss Anne, Mister Matthew, and young Miss Becca. We took all our photos in and around the Hallenbeck homestead while the kids proudly gave me a tour of their world. They showed me the chickens they've raised, their Christmas ornaments, and how to hula hoop with the Wii. My absolute favorite photos from our time together are those of Anne, Matthew, and Becca being their young selves.

Featurette: Marcus and Pamela

I knew I liked Pamela the first time I spoke with her on the phone and as she shared her visions for her wedding video. From the very beginning, she invited me into the details of her and Marcus's wedding. The theme of the day was rustic and all the details she planned fit that theme to a 't'. The shawls for her and her girls, the menu written on old windows, the lights strung across the ceiling, even the location was perfect. The Hideaway inn was set back off the country road in Bucyrus, Ohio and provided the perfect location for a small, intimate gathering.

Below are images from Marcus and Pamela's Featurette, however you must see the real deal (aka...awesome photos) over at Kelly Maughan's blog. It was a great pleasure working with Kelly and her 2nd shooter, Christa. These girls do amazing work!

Let It Snow

'Tis the season for making snowflakes. We were armed with scissors and inspired by those dear to our hearts and linked closely with the Marvel, DC Comics, and other names. There's a hero in all of us, we were told. That inner hero surfaced and from it, this is the goodwill that has been brought forth to humanity.

Bigfoot Sighting

Ultrarunners thrive on running the most difficult races they can find. 5K, great. 50K, even better! Trail running, great. If we can add hills, standing water, mud, and hunters (yes, with guns), even better! Enjoy this crew person's recap of the Bigfoot 50K that took place December 4, 2011 on the trails of Salt Fork State Park.

Now that you have seen the rece from an outsider, take a look at the official race video here, as documented by one of the runners. Pretty entertaining, I thought.

Featurette: Trevor and Jessi

Jessi is one of the healthiest eaters I know. If she can't grow it herself in the pots on her and Trevor's apartment patio, she's scouring farmer's markets and the organic food aisles at the store. She puts together some of the most colorful salads I've ever seen. Trevor and Jessi's wedding was just like the food they eat. Colorful, organic, homegrown, unique. The day became a family reunion and the best shots I captured were of Trevor and Jessi being their natural selves. So, to these wonderful people, I echo one of the poems from their wedding ceremony:

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!"

Enjoy some stills from their video. Hmmm...best bouquet ever?

You're a Rockstar!

For my fill of fast-paced action and more Rihanna and Cobra Starship than I thought I could ever handle, I was sent to the soccer fields this fall. I've been working for and learning from the Master Sports Videographer, Craig Caruso, over at Playback Performance. This past spring, Craig dabbled some opportunities to film lacrosse games in front of me and I must have passed the test. I was able to film the Upper Arlington Women's Varsity Soccer team this season AND edit together a big chunk of their end of season video for them. This is a condensed sample of what we gave them for the banquet. I loved filming these girls! They knew how to have fun together and knew how to persevere through a tough season. As they've said, it's what they remember from the relationships they've built and the love they have for the sport. Thanks, girls for helping me tap into my inner teenage self!

Brownies, It is

The One That Got Away:

1 box Pillsbury Brownie Mix (Family Size)
1 can Pumpkin
1/2 c. applesauce
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup water (or whatever little bit will help the batter become suitable for brownie-batter-pouring consistency)

Mix with wooden spoon and pour into greased baking pan. Bake at 350°F (for glass) in a 9x13" cooking pan for 30 minutes and then some until your toothpick comes out clean.

We've been introduced to some mighty-fine vegan recipes, and there is one that stands out among the crowd: Shelly Smithberger's Pumpkin Brownies. I decided to make some myself and ended up providing both my mother and my husband with hours of endless entertainment instead. Mom had the audacity to actually pick up the brick out of the pan and knock on the counter with it to get my attention. And Steve, even with the voracious hunger that consumes him after running miles and miles, wouldn't touch them with a 10-foot pole.

I needed to fix this, and pronto! So, as you're not supposed to do with science, I changed ALL the variables and struck pure gold.

A Bushel and a Peck: The Phiel Family

If striving to be a good employee isn't enough to keep you up at night, how about taking family photos for your boss? When all is said and done though, and pictures are in hand, it really is nice to hear your boss say "Don't quit your day job" and know how he means it. This was truly a unique experience as I discovered a different family through the lens; different than how I think I had ever experienced them before. Gone was the business of running a lab, of meeting with clients, and of immersing oneself in the available scientific literature. What I had before me was the heart of a family and the giddiness that comes with young children. My young assistant, Elaina, did a fantastic idea and was always fresh with ideas of where and how to pose for photos.

Engaged! Erica and Ben

You can tell you're getting old when your cousin, whom you tried to teach to play piano when he was younger, is now engaged. In my defense, I had no idea what I was doing with teaching and Ben was more than capable of picking up the sweet sounds of piano playing to woo the ladies. Case and point: he's now engaged to the sweetest girl, Erica. Ohio recently had its last nice, fall weekend so Erica, Ben, and I spent a leisurely time strolling the Pet Trail at Highbanks Metro Park before the sun set for the day. We were blessed with brightly colored leaves, a dark sky threatening rain but never delivering, and finally, a setting sun. I was blessed with the company of two fine individuals.