February Photographers Lunch

We met again with the our friends in the Columbus Georgia Photographers Group on Wednesday at El Vaquero. We always meet and talk about our businesses and share thoughts and ideas, but this time we had a great discussion. We had a question and answer period after we ate that covered topics from software to pricing. It is great to get to know everyone and get some great ideas to take back to our own businesses!

Brushes With Greatness

While Julie was in Phoenix for the PPA convention, she got to attend a seminar given by Anne Geddes. For those of you who are not up on the photography world, Anne Geddes is a very famous photographer known for her images of babies. If you've never heard of her, chances are you've seen her work.

After the seminar, Julie, Cary and London got to spend a few minutes with Anne and get their picture made with her. Also, she signed a copy of her book for London! It was an experience Julie, Cary and London are sure to remember always!

MY New Toy!

As Marketing Manager, I am on call 24-7. :) There is only one way to be 100% productive 100% of the time...a laptop. Sometimes these blogs come to me in the middle of the night, and poof! They're gone by morning because I'm to comfy in bed to get up and go to my office and blog. This is a problem no more!

With a lot of help from Julie and Technical Director Cary, I now have a laptop! When ever or where ever I get the notion to write a blog, look something up or check my email, I can! Maximum productivity! It is AWESOME, too!

For those of you who are interested, its an HP dv6t. It is super fast and really pretty!

Valentine's Day Heart Ball

Please join us on Saturday, February 14th for the American Heart Association's Heart Ball at the Rivermill Event Center. We'll be taking Valentine's Day Portraits and donating a portion of our package sales to the American Heart Association.

Tickets to the event are $200 each and proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. Please contact Gale Webster with the American Heart Association at (706) 596-2365 for more information and to purchase tickets!

New Toys!

Christmas came in early February for Julie this year! In order to stay on the cutting edge of the business, Julie invested in some new equipment! Warning: Technical camera jargon ahead!!

She got two new Canon 5D Mark II cameras with battery grips and a 50mm 1.2 lens. Keith and I (mostly Keith) have been complaining that the cameras are too heavy on the tripods, so she got two new Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Magnesium tripods that I swear weigh less than half of what her old ones weighed.

In order to accommodate her new 21 mega pixel bad-boy cameras, Julie had to upgrade her computer and some of the software she uses! It was a big deal to do all this upgrading, but she does it so she can offer the best to her clients! Look forward to new exciting things!

Michelle and Scott

The first weekend of the New Year brought wedding bells for Michelle Bayura and Scott Poley. The couple was married at St. Anne's Catholic Church on January 3rd. The couple is from California, so they chose St. Anne's as a substitute for their home church.

Michelle was beautiful in a simple strapless dress with a sweep train. Instead of a veil, she wore small red and white flowers in her hair, to match her bouquet. The maid of honor also wore red and carried a red and white bouquet.

The reception was held downtown at the Garrett Bullock House. The house was decorated beautifully with flowers by Mayumi Hashiyama. Also on display was a handmade gift, created with a poem and coins, dedicated to the couple by the bride's sister. Both families had a great time at the reception, which was DJ'd by our friend, Benji Shepherd.

It was a cloudy day, but the sun shined on the happy newlyweds! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Poley!

Scott and Maria

As the holidays were coming to an end, Maria Perales and Scott Taft were starting their new life together as husband and wife! December 27th was a pleasant and warm but very windy day for the couple and their families!

The bride wore a pretty strapless dress with sparkling detail on the bodice. She carried a beautiful bouquet of red roses and greenery. Her maid of honor's dress was red like the flowers and carried a bouquet like the bride's, but smaller. However, the cutest member of the wedding party was the couple's little boy, who was dressed in a tuxedo to match his daddy's!

Friend of the studio (and Julie's cousin), Wes Carroll, played a dual role in the Taft's big day. He officiated the ceremony and DJ'd the reception. Held at the Goetchius House downtown, the reception was very intimate and romantic. As the evening moved along, everyone had a great time dancing with the bride and groom. Scott and Maria had one of the best cake smashing fights we've seen lately! They both had more cake on their faces then they actually ate as they were feeding each other.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Taft! Best Wishes for a Happy Marriage!

Wedding Vow Magazine

The premier issue of Wedding Vow magazine it out...and we're in it! The semi-annual Ledger-Enquirer publication has two of our couples from last year: Greg and Kendall Allen and Brandon and Marianne Faison. Their photos can be found on pages 12 and 13 of the magazine in the section called "I Do-Meet the Latest Newlyweds in Your Area."

Celeste's Top Ten Wedding Songs

Being a former band geek, I am a music lover. My life has a soundtrack! I have compiled a list of my most favorite wedding songs. Feel free to adopt them into your soundtrack for your big day. Some are oldies, some are new--some you may have never heard of. They all fit the bill for a big romantic day! I've included my personal favorite lyrics from each, just in case you're in the market for a wedding song!

10. "From This Moment" by Shania Twain and Bryan Adams. I know...it is a little over used. The lyrics are so perfect, though!

I give my hand to you with all my heart,

can't wait to live my life with you,

can't wait to start...

9. "On The Side of Angels" by LeAnn Rimes. This one is from way back when my husband and I started dating almost 11 years ago.

After all the might-have-beens

the close and instant calls,

After all the try-agains, don't be afraid to fall

We're on the side of angels after all

8. "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts. Again, another one that is over used. But...most of us have been through a few duds before finding our soul mate. This song is so perfect for that!

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars

pointing me on my way into your loving arms...

7. "I Wanna Love You Forever" by Jessica Simpson. Okay...so it didn't work out with the guy she wrote this one about. It is still a beautiful wedding song.

I wanna love you forever

And this is all I'm asking of you

10,000 lifetimes together...

6. "We've Only Just Begun" by The Carpenters. This is the first oldie on my list. It is THE ultimate wedding song.

We've only just begun to live

White lace and promises

A kiss for luck and we're on our way

5. "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings. I just love this song. My mom loved the Beatles and Paul McCartney, so this one was drilled into me. The live version is great, because you can really hear the emotion in his voice.

Maybe I'm amazed at the way

you love me all the time

Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love you

4. "I Do (Cherish You)" by 98 Degrees. Poor Nick Lachey! I'm sure he's better off. This was another song that was popular around the time Joel and I started dating. I knew back then that he was the one...that's why this one is so special!

I do cherish you

For the rest of my life,

you don't have to think twice

3. "You're My Best Friend" by Queen. As cheesy as it sounds, I can honestly say that my husband is my best friend. This song is just so fun!

You're the best friend that I've ever had

I've been with you such a long time

You're my sunshine

I want you to know my feelings are true

I really love you

2. "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. This is the newest song on my list. This is from the album 'We sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.' that just came out last summer. I have always loved Jason Mraz, then he went and wrote a song about me and Joel.

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I have been

Lucky to be comin' home again

1. "Livin' My Love" by Sam Fisher. You may have never heard this one. Back when Joel and I were dating, we frequented the Loft downtown and discovered Sam Fisher. He is fantastic. His style is like John Mayer, John Legend, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye all rolled into one awesome guy. This song is my number one because it is the song Joel and I danced our first dance to as husband and wife. You can hear it at http://www.samsongs.com/.

I'm livin' my love

giving you all that matters most

I'm livin' my love

Livin' a love I've never known

Here is another lyric...because I love this song sooooo much!

You will never know how you inspire me

I bet you didn't know

I'm never going to leave

I hope you find some of this useful. Here at JE Hedges Photography...we like to help out in any way we can!