One of these things is not like the other...

Since the holidays our house has been overrun with penguins. Little Gray laughed her head off while we were creating this image.

(from L to R: Giant Penguin, Graycen Penguin, Big Penguin, Mommy and Baby Penguin, Monkey Penguin, Little Penguin, Skating Penguin, Webkin Penguin, Pablo and Crazy-eyes Penguin. Not pictured: Tiny Penguin [temporarily missing], Stinky Penguin [in Florida], Scary Penguin [in Charleston] and lots of other penguin books, calendars, Christmas ornaments, key chains, cards, etc.)



Thanks to everyone for making this waddle of penguins possible.

Our Top 10...

We've been excited to receive hundreds of cards from many colleagues in the photography industry. We thought you would like to see some of our favorites (VERY hard to choose!) These are scans so the quality is a little off but at least it will give you an idea.

Also, keep in mind these are photographers whom we know. They were photographed with their families, co-workers, pets, etc. Contrary to how it appears, they are not models from magazines! Just beautiful all the way around...and the good creative design doesn't hurt either.

We always look forward to these awesome cards every year and we appreciate them so much. Thank you!

In no particular order:

1) Alice Park of Atlanta, GA

Part of their card:


2) Matt and Krystal Radlinski of Gainesville, FL

Front:

Back:


3)Chris and Katie Torres of Atlanta, GA



4) Anne Ruthmann of Terre Haute, Indiana

Part of their card:




5)Brandy J and Sticky Rammel of Van Wert, Ohio (we were honored to photograph them!)

Front:

Back:


6)Jeff and Julia Woods of Washinton, Illinois

Front:

Inside:


7) Victor Sizemore of Ladera Ranch, CA

Part of their card:



8) Sean and Melanie McLellan of Franklin, TN

Front:

Back:


9)Scarlett Lillian of Jacksonville, FL




10)Dustin Izatt of Layton, Utah

Part of their card:



10.5) Emilie Sommer and J Sandifer of Portland, Maine

For simplicity:


11) One of our family portrait clients: The O' Brien Family (we provided the card).

Front:

Inside:


*Please note that the cards above represent the photographers/designers copyrighted creativity.

Merry Christmas 2007

2006


2005


Joyeux noël, buon natale, lystig jul, Nollaig chridheil, jénwèl and merry Christmas from Historic Charleston, South Carolina. We’ve had a great time over the last few days celebrating with family here, and tomorrow we’ll head to Tennessee to celebrate with family there.

Since you’re reading this on the blog, chances are you’ve probably popped in occasionally throughout the year to check up on us and see what’s going on. It’s been quite a year, and we are so blessed. Thirty weddings, 6 different countries, over 160 flights between the two of us, a new home in TN, countless exciting portrait sessions, 2 fantastic workshops, lots of road-trips and way too much fast food.

As we look back and reflect, we pause to remember what’s truly important. FAMILY: we have an amazing family and we’re blessed to have their support. FAITH: we’re fortunate to be a part of an outstanding church community. FRIENDS: when work gets hectic our friends keep us grounded, and we’re sooooo thankful for them. FREEDOM: those serving our country overseas are paying the ultimate sacrifice. As many of them spend their holidays away from their families, our hearts go out to them.

Christmas is a special time, and it becomes even more special when you have a little child running around the house. She’s fascinated by the lights, she loves singing Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman, even though we can’t remember the second verse, and she’s enthralled by what’s inside the beautifully wrapped boxes beneath the tree.

Last evening as we finished up some last minute shopping, we were getting into the car and Graycen was talking about one of her toys, a little stuffed moose (Tyrone from the Backyardigans). She wanted to play with him, but I had left him in the trunk. She said emphatically, “But Daddy, I love him.”

I laughed as Joy turned to me and said “we might as well laugh now, because some day she’ll be saying the same thing but it won’t be about her toy!” So, so true.

On that note, Merry Christmas from the Nudds.

Favorite Christmas Traditions

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is looking at Christmas lights...driving around neighborhoods sipping hot chocolate (not this year as weather is too warm!) and even walking around seeing them on display.

Some of our Christmas light adventures the past couple of weeks with our point and shoot...

Check out how creative this display is! We slowed down and felt bad for the guy...only to find that he wasn't real :)


This is Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights, where you walk around surrounded by Christmas lights, its good to be back and see it again.





Other favorite Christmas traditions are:

-Writing our family Christmas letter (Our first Christmas letter was sent out in 2000).
-Sending out family Christmas postcard (the first one was sent out in 2000, and this is our third year for the feet photo series). Thank you to family, friends, clients, and photographers for over 250 cards we received this year!
- Decorating our home with lots of Christmas cheer (fun, real garland, we put up two big Christmas trees this year, and we'll put up a third one for next year!)
-Baking Christmas cookies (had a Christmas exchange with neighbors this year)
-Buying a new ornament
-Christmas parties and dinners...soo fun!

-Participate in Operation Christmas Child (we have been packing shoeboxes for boys and girls around the world since 2000 and we volunteered at the processing center in '02 at Boone, NC, the closest we felt to being in Santa's workshop and being elves, it was amazing!)

There are more, but my mind has gone blank! We will be adding more as the years go by, so if you have a favorite, drop us a comment and let us know about it! It may just be added to our list :)

We are in Charleston, SC with my side of the family to celebrate Christmas this year. Merry Christmas to you!

Artistic Guild WPJA Awards

WOW! Just received email tonight from the AGWPJA Q3 2007 contest results. Garrett placed twice for the Ceremony category. The competition is pretty intense with this international association and there were some really STUNNING images on there with outstanding photographers worldwide! Check out the winning images especially the Bridal Portrait section...woah!

Statement from AGWPJA website: The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association [AG]WPJA is comprised of outstanding international wedding photographers (WPJA members), who are at the forefront of the wedding photography industry when it comes to enhancing images. The chief objective of the [AG]WPJA is to provide members with a platform where the finest enhanced, manipulated and/or artistic wedding photojournalism in the world is spotlighted and promoted for the bride and groom.
The [AG]WPJA is a separate division of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA). Whereas the WPJA upholds strict guidelines that forbid excessive picture manipulation, the [AG]WPJA encourages and fosters creative image enhancement, with the vision of promoting Fine Art Wedding Photojournalists.

This image from Ann Marie and William's wedding:


This image from Katie and Justin's wedding:


Both really awesome moments, congratulations love! Congratulations to all the winners and Happy Holidays :)

Maria's Nursing Dedication at SAU

Last night, we attended SAU's School of Nursing Dedication. I went to mine four years ago and it is definitely a memorable milestone in a college student's life, especially for a future nurse. I can look back on my time at SAU School of Nursing and what an amazing experience I had...an abundance of support, love, and encouragement from faculty, nursing buddies, family, and friends...nursing school was quite challenging! So when Maria asked me to pin her for the dedication, I was beyond honored. She has accomplished so much being a dedicated student, wife, sister, daughter, friend, mom, and soon to be nurse :)

Pinning Maria We're so proud of her! (Each nursing student is pinned by a chosen registered nurse).

Nurse sisters!


Mitchell giving mom smooches.

Dad decides to let Mitchell borrow his glasses...

Bonnie Hunt was the speaker for my nursing dedication in '03 and pinned me as well! She was one of my biggest mentors while in school and still is today.

Graycen didn't nap this day, so this was her napless expression:


Congratulations Maria!!

WPJA Creative Portrait Award

Garrett placed for the 2007 third quarter contest in WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association).



Thanks to Christian and his groomsmen for making this possible. It was an honor to photograph Katherine and Christian's wedding, they are just the best clients :)

Congratulations love!

Joy :)

The Rammels roll into Chattanooga

We were thrilled to host our dear friends, Brandy J and Sticky Rammel last week. They escaped Ohio's first snow of the season to the warmer "tropical climate" of Chattanooga. As always, we had a blast. Actually, more fun that should be allowed, and truth be told, we're still trying to recover from lack of sleep.

Earlier this year we were honored to photograph Brandy and Sticky's wedding in Savannah at the Mansion on Forsyth Park. Fortunately they approved of the results and we've been fast friends ever since. They also run a pretty impressive photography studio in Ohio.

Here are a few of the images of two of our favorite models ever...

















It's fun photographing fellow photographers because the creative potential seems to increase substantially. Not to mention, these guys are pretty easy on the lens. These last two are two of my favorites from the session...




After the session was over...okay, this is pure foolishness. It's not really what it looks like, I promise.


And then they turned the camera around on us and did a great portrait session of Joy and me and little Gray. You can check their blog for those images. We couldn't be happier with what they captured.


On Thursday evening we headed over to the Blush party, and had a great time there.




We had to grab a quick shot with Nan, who is coincidentally from the next town over from where Brandy and Sticky live.



Thanks guys, for a fantastic visit. We're blessed to have your friendship and we're already looking forward to the next time.