FEATURED IN PEOPLE MAGAZINE
FEATURED IN PEOPLE MAGAZINE

We were honored to have one of our weddings showcased in People Magazine! [...]

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KISS ME!

Learn how to build albums the SIMPLE way, using the KISS System!

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It’s HERE! Click to get it now!

Finally the IN-CAMERA: Natural Light System is HERE!

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from the Vendor Spotlights category

Jun
11
2010

A Fitness Photoshoot – Nathan & Jenni Oates with B.U.R.S.TClub Launches!

by Jody on June 11, 2010, posted in Artist Shoots,Uncategorized,Vendor Spotlights

Today marks the launch of something that has been in the works for awhile now, and we are so pumped that we have been able to be a part of this with our images!

Burst Training Nathan and Jenni Oates

Entrepreneurs, personal trainers, former college athletes, health buffs, and friends, Nathan & Jenni Oates have officially launched B.U.R.S.TClub.  B.U.R.S.TClub is a member center that offers 100s of burst training style workouts for those that want to have a healthy life.  But it’s not just your average fitness website.

B.U.R.S.TClub provides a place for community and accountability for people desiring to get a great workout and be healthier through blogs, forums, and personal nutrition and fitness tips from Nathan & Jenni.

And we are soooo stoked that we were able to shoot all of the imagery for their promo!

The BURST workout is a unique 3 minute (yes, you read that right) workout that is a combo of both cardio and resistance training, and let us tell you from personal experience – it kicked our booties!!!!  Read our blog post on our experience of doing burst training.  Whew!

We not only admire but have tremendous respect for this couple and their cutest kids EVER (view our past blog post of their family).

Anyway, make sure to check out the below images from a fitness shoot we did of Nathan & Jenni, visit their highly informational blog with great ways on being healthy, and check out their brand spankin’ new BURST Club website.

*For those of you in the Charlotte, NC area, make sure to check out Nathan & Jenni on CharlotteToday on News Channel 36 THIS morning at 11am.

Enjoy the shots!

Ummm…. These guys are RIPPED!

Jenni has had 4 kids! WOW!

Burst Training Nathan and Jenni Oates

Nathan, I hate you and your ripped abs! Actually, I am seriously jealous!

Burst Training Nathan and Jenni Oates

A little workout in action!

Burst Training Nathan and Jenni Oates
We just had to put in this super fun image of these two cuties!!

Burst Training Nathan and Jenni Oates

Congrats on the big launch you two! We know you are going to be a huge success because of how much you have helped, and want to help everyone around you! Love you guys!

Jun
8
2010

Tuesday Photography Tips & Tricks – The Beauty of the Expo Disc & White Balance

by Zach on June 8, 2010, posted in Photo Tips & Tricks,Vendor Spotlights

Don’t you hate it how sometimes you spend FOREVER in Lightroom or Photoshop trying to get the stinkin’ correct white balance for your images?  Waste time no more!  These next minutes will forever change your editing time, and therefore will change your life.

Guaranteed.

Read on :)

When we first started shooting professionally back in ’07, we (well, really Zach :) stumbled across this awesome little guy called the ExpoDisc, and it truly has changed our editing and edit time.  You know how we’re big advocates of shooting everything in camera so your edit time is next to nil and how we show clients images as we are shooting because they look so great right on the back of our cameras?  Well, the ExpoDisc, my friend, is a HUGE part of this.

The ExpoDisc is essentially a gray card.  Just smaller and more accurate. For those who like to read the detailed information of its workings, you can visit the ExpoDisc web page on Expo Imaging’s site.

The Awesomeness of the Expo Disc:

- It’s small and comes with a strap where you can wear it around your neck or in a little carrying case that attaches to your belt.  SWEET.
- Allows you to get a custom white balance, set it in your camera and all the following images will have beautiful color!  Try showing your subjects your images as you are shooting – they will FLIP!
- If you forget to get a custom WB (which it really takes about 5 seconds and doing it beforehand is the way you want to do it :) then you can grab the WB real quick after shooting in that particular scene and apply it to the previous images in Lightroom later.
- If you have two cameras, only one camera has to get the custom WB and then in post you can simply and quickly apply the correct WB to the other camera’s images so the colors will match!
- The ExpoDisc is great for double checking your exposure!

We believe so strongly in Expo Imaging’s ExpoDisc that we have partnered with them for our IN-CAMERA photography workshops.  Fun times!

They also have used our images for their ads.

The ExpoDisc is seriously a must have for every photographer.  If we didn’t believe in it as much as we do, we wouldn’t be here telling you about it :)

Here are two other examples of images we have taken, and how big of a difference getting a custom WB makes as opposed to guessing or the camera’s awful auto white balance.

The ExpoDisc is put out by Expo Imaging and you can visit their site HERE.

Tips for Purchasing an ExpoDisc:

-We use the ExpoDisc Neutral
- When you buy one, buy the one that fits your biggest lens.

Who else out there uses the ExpoDisc?  Will you ever be able to live without it now?  :)

Happy Tuesday!!!

Jan
27
2010

Our Visit to the Pictage Offices!

by Zach on January 27, 2010, posted in Traveling,Vendor Spotlights

Since almost the beginning of our business, we have been members of Pictage, the industry leader in online image hosting, printing and sales solutions, and services to professional photographers. Once we got their informational DVD on all the services they offered, we were sold!

Pictage has been HUGE in assisting us in our business, and their services for photographers range widely, and without them we would be spending countless hours dealing with print orders and many other things.

When we were in CA in December we set some time aside to visit the offices and have lunch with a few of the peeps!  Enjoy the visual journey of our visit, thanks to the iPhone‘s picture taking abilities!

First, we were greeted with a custom welcome screen in the main entryway of our images… awwww, special.

iphoneentrance

Then the FABULOUS Scott Miura gave us a tour of the place which started in CEO Jim Collins‘ office… Jim wasn’t there yet so Zach was welcomed to take a moment and see how it felt in Jim’s Seat.  Ohhh… the power…

iphone ceo office

We got to see and meet the people in all the departments and what a system they have set up there!  We stopped by shipping and were told that we had just missed the crazy rush of getting all the thousands of Christmas orders out in time.  Here were some of their regular orders waiting for pickup (this was one bin of like 4 or 5!).

iphoneREAL SHIP

And of course, we left our mark on a few whiteboards that just happened to be around…

Artwork by Zach Gray…

iphone dry board 2

Artwork by moi

iphone dry board

We headed off to lunch with the FAB Emily, Scott M., Scott A., and CEO Jim at the Red Car Brewery, and then came back for a few photos :)

Here is us with Jim & Paul Manke!

iphone pic together

What we love about Pictage is that the people there really care.  They are open to any and all feedback and really want to make Pictage the absolute best it can be for their fellow photographers.

When we got back from our travels we had a package waiting for us with a print of the below picture that was taken of us all together…  Aw!

(From L to R – Scott A, Jody, Jim, Zach, Emily, & Scott M.  We heart you guys!)

We love how the people at Pictage really care about photographers.  They aren’t interested in making their own lives easier, they are interested in making our lives as photographers easier.  Thanks everyone at Pictage for all you do!!

Who else out there is a fellow Pictager?  What do you use Pictage for and what do you like about it?

Dec
2
2009

Ronald McDonald House Elephant Cake Shoot

by Zach & Jody on December 2, 2009, posted in Vendor Spotlights

“Many families travel far from home to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children. The treatment may last a day, a month, or even longer. It’s a long time to be away from home, or to divide a family. Ronald McDonald Houses around the world offer families a way to stay together, in proximity to the treatment hospital, and be comfortable and cared for during their stay.” – Ronald McDonald Website

Jody and I were asked to shoot a special cake recently that was donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville by the amazing Amy Richardson from The Bake Shoppe! The cake was for the kids for their Halloween party and it was a big hit! The cake was inspired by a cool gift card that the girls at the Bake Shop had seen and decided they could do a cake to match. It looked amazing and we came down and took some shots of the cake and the kids and staff and had a ton of fun!! Check out the cake shots below!!

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Here is the card that inspired the cake!

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If you want more info on the Ronald McDonald House charity and what they do, visit their website  here!

Nov
21
2009

Photo Restoration – The Perfect Christmas Gift Idea

by Zach on November 21, 2009, posted in Vendor Spotlights

Old and damaged Photo + My Sister = awesomeness

I have to say that my sister is a super talented gal.  All of us girls (I have an older and a younger sister) are creative in our own ways thanks to both of my parents.  I want to take a moment and brag on my older sister, as well as maybe give you some ideas for Christmas shopping!

Introducing my sister Jacq (also know as Jacqueline or Jackie as I called her growing up):

Jacq_withName

Not only is my sister super organized, and loves photography (must be in the genes, check out this shot my mom took of her when we were little…aw so cute!)…

JacqCamera1

…but my sister blows me away with her talent at the computer.  Jacq for the past couple of years has worked with a company doing photo restoration and has branched out on her own.  Her work blows me away!!  She can take a water damaged photo, a faded photo, a torn photo – you name it and bring the image back to it’s original state.  It has been crazy seeing the hundreds and hundreds of projects that she has worked on and what she has done.

With a baby on the way (the first grandchild of both sides of our family!  Woo hoo) my sister has moved into freelance and fired up her own business.  So exciting!

For those of you wondering out there what meaningful Christmas gift you can give your parents, grandparents, siblings, or special someone, think about having an image restored & retouched. With technology these days and a skilled person utilizing these tools correctly, it’s amazing what memories can be pulled back and make such a meaningful gift.

Check out a small sample of her work:

3_Gorman

1_Bauer

2_Roll

Amazing, eh?  Talk about a meaningful Christmas gift for a family member or loved one.

If you’re interested in having any images restored, contact Jacq at JWashburnPR@yahoo.com.  Mention you found her on our blog and receive a free quote.  Contact her by December 5th and receive 15% off!

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