Posted on April 30, 2010
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Posted on April 20, 2010
I lost a great friend yesterday and have come to find solace in the photos I have taken over the last few years. While most of my photography is aimed at capturing the happier moments of life, I also thought I would share with everyone how it helps to cope with loss and the affirmation of love that often chases on the tail of grief.
My Aunt was a remarkable woman. For all of her 86 years, she never had a driver’s license and only once drove a car. She was never married. She remained stubbornly independent and optimistically enthusiastic until her final days. She had a decades-old crush on John Wayne and the only dream I knew she had was to own not only a big screen TV, but one with color. She cherished the simpler things in life, preferring her old creaky recliners over new furniture and often had a small clutch of cats scurrying about her small Massachusetts apartment.
Aunt Ruth watched over me as a young child when my mom was at work. She cleaned my scraped knees, comforted me after bee stings, and made the best damn grilled cheeses you could ever ask for. Her egg nog was a welcome comfort in the dark New England Winters. Aunt Ruth was always an enthusiastic welcome at holiday parties and her campy birthday cards always seemed to find their target a day ahead of the celebrations.
One of my most fond ongoing memories of Aunt Ruth was when she would walk to the end of Pond Factory Road in Woodstock to meet us at
the bus. No matter the weather, no matter the day, as the bus rounded the corner a small, proud woman would be standing in a winter coat, eager to hear about our days at school. The New England autumns were especially amazing as we walked the mile and a half road through the wild, fiery colors of maple and oak. Before we played, Aunt Ruth made sure we did our chores. After the clanking of poorly washed dishes and the thumps of a loaded woodbox, we could then retreat to the chilly outside to play.
Another of my memories was as a very young kid. Aunt Ruth and I would walk everywhere (she never had a car) around Southbridge, Mass 
where she lived. For some reason she always encouraged me to walk along the stone walls that often lined the sidewalk. As a child, it was fun. As an adult, it proves that she taught me that some of the most rewarding things in life are often not found along the commonly taken paths.
Aunt Ruth has also been an inspiration for me as an adult. For twenty-something years, she went to work at a factory in Massachusetts making jewelry tags. She never missed a single day, and even when she would share her stories, never complained about her work. She always had such compassion for her pets – that I can’t help but think that provided me with life lessons on caring for the smaller things in life and my work as an animal rights advocate. Aunt Ruth encouraged me on our numerous walks to collect the pretty rocks we would see along the way. Back at her house, she would wash a glass jar and we would arrange the stones inside, and close the lid to seal them in. It was a few years ago that I found some of these jars among her only possessions. She taught me to see beauty in the smaller things among us, and was an inspiration for me as a budding photographer.
Aunt Ruth was such a stunningly simple person – she lived on a tiny pension and a social security check. Yet, I never heard her once complain. She always 
seemed to be so content with herself and comfortable in her own self. I truly…honestly…hope that as I get older I become more like her.
Perhaps, selfishly, I will really miss our Saturday phone calls. Over the last several years (it has become tougher as of late), we had a chat every Saturday. She always sounded to eager to hear of my endeavors and adventures – a surreal contrast and perhaps escape – from the confines of her nursing home room. While I would share tales of ziplining in Kauai, or details on my exciting new cell phone, she kept me grounded with stories about the ham she had for dinner last night – and how good it was.
Aunt Ruth…your crackling laugh and soothing voice will be missed so dearly. Perhaps the greatest thing of all however, is your crooked smile, your perfect heart, and your unconditional love you so freely shared with those around you. Thank you for being an inspiration, a true person, and a role model to a family.
Honeybunch
Posted on April 14, 2010
There has been a lot of talk lately about DIY weddings and the expense of hiring high quality vendors. It seems that more and more couples are opting to recruit a friend or family member to be their photographer. And, while I am a professional photographer, I will do my best to address this serious issue without bias. That being said, here are the top 10 reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer:
#10. We know weddings. We see so many weddings every year that we know what to expect. We know the best angles for the cake cutting, the bouquet toss, the first dance. We know what lenses to have ready and where to be to get the shots that mean the most to you. A friend or family member most likely does not know any of these.
#9. A guest is a guest! Let your friend or family member enjoy your wedding and not have to be a nervous mess. They will be working hard, doing something they most likely have never done before…and you have given them a huge responsibility. Is that fair to them?
#8. It’s all in the bag, baby! Photography is a very expensive contact sport. Us professionals have amassed a significant investment in top of the line cameras, storage, lenses, lighting, you name it. We have them repaired and maintained by the manufacturer. We have the sensors cleaned. We also have redundant equipment to cover us in the event of an equipment failure.
#7. We know our gear. As a professional, I am always shooting! Remember the stories about the high school football coach that made his players carry a football for an entire month? They could never set it down. The reason? It became an extension of them. My cameras are an extension of me and I can grab it, fire it up, make a change and get the shot in seconds. Most people that do not live photography will not have the same results and will miss “the” shot.
#6. It’s our business. While the devil may be in the details, we know the important stuff to cover with you. I always have a printed out time line that I bring to the wedding and will engage your vendors so we are all on the same page. We have liability insurance in the event someone is injured. I will call you and email you during the weeks before the wedding to ensure everything is crystal clear and we are all comfortable.
#5. The best computers. Most people think photographers only care about cameras. What good are the best cameras and lenses if my computer dies and I lose all your wedding images? Most photographers have redundant external drives, online storage, and offsite backups to protect YOUR images. I currently use a RAID5 array and 10 external drives (plus off site drives) to protect your images. Most people never think about this. Neither will your Uncle Bob.
#4. We have a network. Another element most people do not consider is the reach of the photographer. I have contracted with you to be there on your wedding. But what happens if I am in a car accident on the way? What if I am hospitalized? Most professionals have a diverse network of other professionals that are friends that will always ensure you are covered.
#3. Standards. Okay, so your high school friend is going to shoot your wedding. He shoots all day and gives you a DVD of your images…but they are in a RAW Nikon format and you cannot do anything with them…or maybe his monitor is not calibrated and they all look yellow…or maybe they are exported JPEGs at a small resolution and look horrible when printed. Professionals have all this stuff covered for you. 
#2. We like to edit. When you think about price, you are probably thinking “well they are only going to be there for 8 hours…why are they so expensive?” Most people don’t think about the time to email, setup meetings, research the venues, shoot the wedding, download and backup the images, edit the images, burn the assets, design layouts and albums, place orders, receive orders, ship items, and follow up. It’s a lot more than 8 hours! I typically spend a week after the wedding on edits and organizational tasks.
#1. It’s your best day. You were so excited when you said yes…the feeling of that ring on your finger. You have thought of this day since you were a little kid, and now it is approaching. Why would you settle on a non-pro to document it? As a professional, nothing bothers me more than hearing from people that say “our wedding images were horrible…we thought we’d save some money.” Basically, those memories are just that…
So, I know this sounds all doom and gloom. It doesn’t have to! Here are a couple of solutions to the problem:
1. Wait. If you cannot afford professionals, wait. Save your money and do the wedding thing right.
2. Hire a wedding planner. Most people think they are a luxury they cannot afford…but in reality they can save you a lot of money, guide you through some decisions, and be invaluable on the wedding day.
3. Remember about retainers! When you hire a professional, you will be asked to pay a retainer. This is typically 50% of the commission fee. So, think of it as a payment plan. 50% down, and 50% in the next several months. When broken down into these smaller chunks, it is often much easier to plan and afford.
I hope these help you make the right choices when thinking about professionals for your wedding. As always, contact me with any questions!
Scott
Posted on April 2, 2010
OK, so last weekend I flew from Portland to Melbourne, Florida for Jen + Alex’s wedding. It was awesome (see my earlier post here). Anyway, so we had long talked about how exactly we wanted to trash her dress….carnival? Ocean? Paint? Nope – her (new) hubby’s dirtbike, some Florida swamps and a crystal clear artesian spring was JUST what the trash doctor ordered. We had a blast and Jen EARNED the “Bridal Trooper of the Year” award for willingly wading in a (possibly snake infested) swamp and swimming in some crazy cold water. We also had to climb over a gate and explore some um…..land that maybe we…..well…never mind. She was an awesome bride!
I was also very fortunate, as my good friend Jason Martin from Concept Photography wanted to tag along and shoot the event with me. Jason had a great time and we are so happy he was able to make it to the shoot.
Thanks for having some fun!
Posted on April 1, 2010
I feel like I have known Jen and Alex for so long…we shot a series of engagement sessions, a boudoir session, their wedding and an awesome trash the dress session (in a future post). All along this time we got to know each other so well and get comfortable with one another. When the time came for their wedding, I felt like another friend coming along to enjoy the festivities. In a nutshell, it was great.
They were married at the Rossetter House in Melbourne, FL and their reception was at the Courtyard at the Oaks. Everything was just perfect. We did formals and party shots in my favorite Florida spot – the Eau Gallie Arts District.
Thanks so much to your friends and family for welcoming me into this wonderful day. It was awesome.
Here are a few preview shots!
Scott
