Since you two are the only clients who commented on the salon post you’re both getting gift certificates to Salon Doremi to pamper yourselves.  Thanks for being my blog stalkers.  :D

Enjoy yourselves, and be sure to say hi to my sister Tricia while you’re there.  :)

Happy holidays!!

Actually, some of them aren’t new at all.  They’re existing policies that I haven’t really enforced but I am going to have to in the new year.

I can’t believe 2008 is almost over, for starters!  It’s been a fantastic year, and I cannot thank all my wonderful clients enough.  You guys are all amazing.  :)

So there will be a few changes in 2009 and most of them are to help keep costs down.  If you have any questions, just give me a buzz or drop me a note.

Gallery Re-Posting Fee
I have been really lax with this policy this year.  Mostly because I had so many issues with my web hosting company that my site was frequently unavailable.  But those issues have been resolved, so starting in 2009 I will collect a $25 re-posting fee to re-activate expired galleries.

Portrait proof galleries are posted online for two weeks.  I’m going to start adding the gallery expiration date to portrait contracts so it’s there for everyone to see.  I will also send out reminder emails one week before the gallery expires and then again three days before the expiration date.  I know life gets crazy and ordering family photos aren’t always at the top of that list.  :)  So I’ll be better about sending out reminders for everyone.

If you do need an extension there will be a $25 fee to post the gallery for an additional two weeks.  Thanks so much for your understanding!

Portrait Proofs
I am going to start including printed proofs of some sort in all portrait packages next year.  I’m still deciding on the format, but I know it’s not always convenient to sit in front of the computer to look at your proofs.  I’ll post more about the printed proofs as soon as I decide on the format.  The proofs will be yours to keep.  :)

Packaging & Shipping
In an effort to keep costs down and be a little more eco-friendly I have decided to start drop-shipping print orders whenever possible.  What this means is the print order will ship from the printer directly to you.  In the past I have packaged up my portrait print orders in nice boxes with pretty ribbons, etc.  I love the way it looks but I know it’s a little on the wasteful side since the packaging just gets thrown away.  So when I can I’m going to have the printer send orders directly to you.  This will increase your order turnaround time and it will also cut down on waste.

You can still pick up print orders at the studio if that’s more convenient, though.  :)

Blog Images
I usually post teaser images on my blog from my sessions.  You are more than welcome to grab them to email to friends and family or to post to social networking sites.  All I ask is that you leave the watermark and copyright in tact and not crop it out.  If you want a different crop for a site, just ask!  I’ll be happy to provide a web resolution for you.  :)

I think that covers everything for now, but I’ll be sure to post any other updates or changes.  Thanks again for your continued business, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Warm regards,

KellyT  :)

I shot my final wedding of the 2008 season, and I cannot think of a better way to end the year.  Or a better couple to spend it with:  Brian and Lori.

You might remember these two crazy kids from their fun engagement session last month.  I should have known right then and there that their wedding would be the most unique wedding I photographed.  I also figured it would be one of the most fun, and I’m happy to say I wasn’t disappointed.  :)

They got married at the Houston Mill House in Decatur, and the location was just stunning.  Atlanta is gorgeous this time of year with all the brilliant fall colors, and we were lucky enough to still have leaves on the trees.  We were unlucky to have the temperatures dip a little too low for their outdoor ceremony, but moving it inside worked out really well.

Lori is incredibly creative and crafty, and she made many of the wedding decorations herself.  From the invitations to the programs to the grooms’ boutonnieres…she did it all!  And it really made the wedding her own.  Everything throughout the evening was a reflection of these two, and I loved all of it.  Be sure to check out her Etsy shop if you have a minute!  This girl has some mad skills.  :D

I don’t even know where to begin writing about this wedding.  It was an insane amount of fun, and I don’t know that I’ve ever smiled and laughed that hard while working.  I guess I should start off with a little Puma love…

At the engagement session Brian let me know that his Pumas are very important to him.  I believe Lori actually called him the “Imelda Marcos of Pumas” and I believe he absolutely deserves that nickname.  :D

The groomsmen all showed up in pinstripes and Pumas, and I loved the look.  It went very well with Lori’s old Hollywood style.  She looked like she stepped right out of an old black and white film!  Am I wrong?

She made an absolutely beautiful bride.  I loved how simple, elegant, and even eclectic her dress was.  It suited her perfectly.  :)

When I heard about the pinstripes and Pumas, I immediately thought of a photo I saw on Flickr a while back.  It mimicked The Godfather, and I thought these guys would be perfect for a similar photo:

We quickly did the formal photos outside before the ceremony because it was CHILLY.  We were going to have wedding party pops if we stayed out there much longer, but everyone was great about putting up with me for those photos.  Thanks, guys!  :)

The ceremony took place inside in front of this huge stone fireplace.  It was perfect for a cold fall evening, and it made for an intimate setting for their nuptials.  A good friend officiated the ceremony, and an uncle gave a wonderful reading.  And then there was the log.  :D

The log is a tradition from southern Germany/northern Italy and it represents the couple’s first challenge together.  They sawed that darn thing in half with the entire wedding crowd cheering them on.  It was awesome!  :D

After the ceremony we got to relax for a bit while the guests enjoyed the cocktail hour.  I had to laugh at the plethora of iPhones at this wedding, though.  I was totally usurped by the iPhone!  Some of the groomsmen were posting to Facebook during the wedding.  Little punks!  :D

I posted a few myself after I realized what was going on.  It’s not the equipment that matters…it’s how you use it.  ;-)

The cake cutting wasn’t actually a cake cutting at all.  Lori and Brian had a cupcake tower on a stand she designed and built herself…decorated with a map of Italy.  And topped with a couple of Star Wars characters.  :D

I was a little worried about the reception once it started, though.  No one was dancing!  The DJ was playing Frank Sinatra and other amazing music, but no one seemed to be interested in dancing to it.  I watched Brian sort of saunter over to the DJ, whisper something in his ear, and the DJ gave a knowing nod.  Next thing I know Bon Jovi’s blasting over the speakers…and the dance floor is full.  Livin’ on a Prayer, baby!  :D

Bon Jovi was followed by Def Leppard, AC/DC, Queen, Violent Femmes, and Sir Mix-a-lot.  I was in heaven.  :D  And I’m fairly certain I did my fair share of singing and dancing as well.  Oh, and here’s a polite reminder for you shutterbugs who thought it would be fun to photograph the photographer:  YOU DO NOT HAVE A SIGNED MODEL RELEASE!  :D

If you can’t tell from these photos and this post, I had an amazing time at this wedding.  Both families made me feel right at home, and I felt like I was one of the guests.  I have way too many photos to post, so I hope you’ll check out the slideshow over on Flickr to see more:

Brian and Lori’s Wedding Slideshow

I hope you two have a wonderful time on your honeymoon, and your proofs will be waiting for you when you get back.  Congratulations!!  :)