I'm a sucker for a puppy.
So when my neighbors decided to adopt two lab/pitbull mix puppies, sisters, I was very excited. They are about nine weeks old and are as cute as they can be. The smaller of the two with brindle markings and grey/green/blue eyes is Ginger and the larger black girl with a white patch on her tummy, chin and on all four paws, is Layla.
People are always raving about how great naps are and that you should take one everyday, however, I think a puppy break is a much better idea. So here's your puppy break!
It's hit the stands, Lake Murray/Columbia magazine's May issue is out and I had the opportunity to photograph two of the stories.
The first story is about an artist named Anne Boudreau. Born and raised in the South she works with textiles and makes amazing looking fabric sculptures. Her show will open on May 7 at the new 701 CCA on Whaley Street and will run until July 5, you should check it out!!
The other story that I was able to photograph was local bakers offering tips for best cake making and decorating. As a wedding photojournalist I have the opportunity to sample a lot of cakes, some of the best the state has to offer and one of my favorites is Chocolate Nirvana. They make an amazing Godiva Liquor cake that will make you wonder if it would be poor form if you ate the entire thing. It's that good. Don't even get me started about the flourless Chocolate Nirvana Cake--WOW!!!! If you want to try it for yourself, they are located on Richland Street and their website is www.chocolatenirvanabakery.com. Tell them Heybabysmile sent ya.
Here are my favorites from both shoots.
Here's a few of my favorite pictures from James and Ashley Kilpatrick's wedding. The ceremony was at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Lexington and the reception was at the Palmetto Club in downtown Columbia, S.C. The club also handled the catering. It was a great day with a delightful reception complete with lots of fun dancing. I'd like to thank Brett Flashnick for helping me out!!!
A few months ago the Southern Short Course in News Photography was held in North Carolina. The Southern Short Course is the oldest photojournalism contest in America and gets entries from all over, despite the name "Southern", which is a nod to where the contest began, right here in the Carolinas.
I don't get to do a ton of editorial work but last year Bloomberg News called to see if I would cover the Presidential candiate Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, as she read to kids at the University of South Carolina. It was great fun and I've got to tell you she was a delight to watch, very engaged and really seemed to have a good time with the kids. Even Cocky showed up.
The photograph took an HM in the Campaign 2008 category and I was reminded of this when a plaque showed up in the mail over the weekend. Thought it would be fun to take a look back!
With all the discussion going on about the economy and stimulus money for the state, imagine my surprise when I looked up after walking back to the car from a wedding, and saw South Carolinas' statehouse bathed in a spooky light. Looked a little like trouble brewing to me.
I just wanted to post a quick picture from the Meyer-Kilpatrick wedding. Check back next week for a few more but here's Ashley and James leaving the Palmetto Club in downtown Columbia, S.C. as wedding guests showered them with bubbles. It was a terrific wedding with some of the most lively dancing I have ever seen.
Here are some of Ashley's bridal portraits. She had a wedding dress with pockets, how fun! We shot in Lexington County, even talking a farmer into letting us borrow his red barn. I'm sure it will be the talk of family gatherings for years to come, it's not everyday a beautiful woman in a wedding dress asked to borrow your barn!
Check back to see some selects from the wedding in just a few days!!!
A few weeks ago my friend Scott Ernst and his family traveled down from Pennsylvania to visit historic Charleston and we had an opportunity to do a few family pictures. Scott and his wife Jennifer and their beautiful two-year old son Zach were a real delight to photograph and it was great catching up!!
I am pretty excited to have placed again in the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA). It's a great group of wedding photojournalists from all over the world!!!! The WPJA is pretty strict on who joins, less than 5% of wedding photographers are granted membership.
About the picture the judges said they liked "the expression on the bride in conjunction with the hands it captures the closeness between this group of people. You really get a sense of family and love."
The picture is from Pam and Milton Mack's wedding last summer at the Seibels House and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina.
On occassion I do volunteer work for some of the animal non-profit groups in the area. One of the groups that I love working with is PAALS (Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services). Jennifer Rogers heads the group that trains service dogs for adults and children with physical disabilities and special needs. On Friday, April 24 Paals is having a fundraiser and graduation. Dogs will graduate from their training, a dinner, silent and live auction and dancing. If your interested in learning more about PAALs you can go to www.paals.org for more information on the fundraiser or volunteering.
