Just want to extend my apologies for not being around too much. At my day job, my assistant of 15 years turned in her retirement paperwork, and my boss turned his in 2 days later.

So, I'm in a position where I don't have the master's degree to take my boss's place, nor do I want it. I am at a crossroads where if they promote the person who tried to get me fired twice in the last two years, because I was following the rules, and told her "no" to a request that she didn't have the authority to even ask... I may be looking at a change. Even if that doesn't happen. I will be training a new assistant, and a new supervisor at the same time. Either way, I won't be on here a whole lot until the dust settles. I also don't know if the new boss will understand the ups and downs of my position here, and not sure if they will continue to let me visit UHH when there is a slow time in my day.

While my lovely bride suggested that I get more serious about going back to photography as a full time job, when looking at the possibilities financially, and at the reality of possibly losing my love of photography because it becomes so stressful about where my next job is coming from, it is not something I'm really entertaining at this time. Who knows? I may end up with no choice in the matter as well..

I will check back as often as I can, but hope that someone will help police the Wedding Photography section so we can keep it the positive branch of the forum tree...

Wish me luck in the next 2 weeks (and then some) as I wait to hear what my future at my day job brings.

I have done one or two wedding by pools. I have warned my assistants before they take a sep, when they are within 6 feet of the pool, pick you head up and look before you step. But............things happen. Wonder if someone caught her going for a dip?

PS, this is why I also bring backup to the two cameras I carry. Something alot of the brides I send quote to don't seem to appreciate. Not to mention my two assistants carry full frames. I would just take one of their's away and use it myself.

I don't know what the hell happened here. There are so many things wrong with this photo. Yeah, one of the things is that it is out of focus. This is probably a result from being so startled. Anyway, this is not a big issue on this site since 90% of all photos posted are out focus and usually get 10 pages of "Great job!" ( my pet peeve).

Anyway, this photo was not intentional. Here is how it went down:

Here I was, bored out of my mind, minding my own business when I noticed that I had a possible landscape photo in the making with the main subject being a couple of people sitting on a bench looking out over a lake. Then, all of a sudden, this girl jumps into the scene doing some weird thing just as I snapped the photo. I don't even think that the people on the bench knew her. The kid on the bench was just as surprised as I was.

It gets worse: What I did not notice (I could not see this on a 3 inch screen), is that kid has one hell of a plumber's crack. Oh, my God! After seeing this on a 24 inch computer monitor, I could not decide whether to throw up or die laughing. I chose the latter but I am still here.

Either way, I just had to share this. Enjoy!

I meant the bride to be for a wedding shoot we have coming up in a few weeks, it's at a chapel (Chapel Hill in Shandon, California) that was built by William Clark who served under President Ronald Reagan as the Deputy Secretary of State from 1981 to 1982, United States National Security Advisor from 1982 to 1983, and the Secretary of the Interior from 1983 to 1985.

It's incredibly gorgeous ...... sits on top of a plateau all by itself surrounded by hundreds of acres with nothing on them but oats and some vineyards. The views are incredible .........

I wanted to see what the lighting was like at the time the wedding will take place as there are to huge double doors which open up into a courtyard where other people will be seated. 425 guest ........ oh my!

I snapped a few pictures to see what the exposure was like with all the back light when her father walks his daughter from the outside courtyard thru the double doors. I think I was close to nailing.

We are shooting stills and video .......

425 guest ........ oh my!

I rented a couple of rooms at a local turn of the century mansion for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to get ready at, since the wedding was outside at the lake and the bathrooms at the boathouse were not going to work. Now I found out the hard way photographing your daughters wedding with her siblings and their friends is like herding Cats. It was pretty bad that the 3 flower girls and the ring bearer listened better then the adults. But the day went off just perfect and my little girl wanted to look like a princess. She was so happy all day and looked just like a princess.

From an engagement snap I did yesterday.

How to compose when your dealing with a couple when one or both are plus size. Use the guy to hide areas of the girl. You can not notice her build or heavier areas of her arms. This pose is very flattering to the bride to be. You can not tell the weight of the groom. Both are in their mid 50's, my guess is this will be a picture that they will print, frame and place on their work desk or by their bed. I don't pretend to know everything but what I do know I'll happily pass.