Playing catch-up! « Couturephotographer’s Weblog

Playing catch-up!

Opera Singer/Teacher

Have you ever noticed that there are times when you can get bored out of your mind because there is nothing to do, and then time when you can’t catch your breath because the opposite is true? It’s been way too long since I last posted, but I am remedying that right now.

The holiday season is always my favorite time of year. I put up my tree ridiculously early this year (well before Thanksgiving) and it only just came down yesterday! Now there is a reason the tree goes up so early…I host an annual Thanksgiving brunch/parade viewing party at my house. This year, my sister Noemi (an Opera singer and teacher based in Tampa, FL) came to visit over that holiday. We always take advantage of our time together to update her headshot (the photograph that is printed in your playbill). This year, we went to the beach with the express purpose of doing a “happy” headshot for when she plays the young ingenue roles.

Opera Singer/Teacher

She is really great to work with. She brings an energy and a unique spirit to the photography session that I truly can feed upon. We spent almost two hours shooting and I hardly realized how much time had passed. Look for her in The Merry Widow(Grisette) with the St. Petersburg Opera and later this Spring in Ybor City Cinderella (Cinderella) with the Spanish Lyric Theatre.

Another incredible opportunity that came my way was the Seacoast Christmas Eve service. Although not a pageant per se, the “Family Life” service did have a unique reading and dramatization of the Christmas Story.

Choirs of Angels

It was so well done, that I watched it twice! The children sang beautifully and the story was very moving when seen in such a realistic format. Although the auditorium was very dark, and I did not want to use flash for fear of distracting those in attendance, the Seacoast team did an excellent job of using theatrical lights and colored gels to lend the whole set the appropriate mood and atmosphere.

Away in a Manger

It also helped me to have enough light to focus and photograph by. It is a little more difficult to work in a low light situation, but since we don’t use flash during wedding ceremonies, I have plenty of practice.

Once again, we were able to participate in the A Wonderful Wedding Bridal Show. This is an occasion where we get to show off our work and meet with a lot of brides who are searching for just the

A Bride/Model at the end of the runway.

right people to work with. This year, Kathy Baxley (the owner and producer of A Wonderful Wedding Magazine and Bridal Show), asked Naomi DoddingtonCouture Photography to photograph the bridal fashion show. It was a great opportunity to generate some images for future shows, as well as giving us a chance to get some great shots for the models. Since all of the models (excepting the children) are brides-to-be or have only recently married, it was a lot of fun to work with them and feel the excitement that they brought to the event.

There is one final thing that I am very excited to announce. The book “Bride’s Advisor: Charleston” which I mentioned in a posting last year is ready to be officially released! There is a kick off event for the book on January 29th and the book will be available locally as well as nationally via Amazon and other large booksellers. Our work is featured throughout the book, even garnering a coveted double-page spread! I am very excited about this. There is nothing more thrilling than seeing your work in print. It is also quite an honor as the publishers of the “Bride’s Advisor” hand selected only the best area photographers to be in their book. Look out for this book, and keep your eyes peeled as new volumes for different cities arrive.