Emilie and Kevin will enjoy a luxurious stay at Ocean Lodge on St. Simons Island and a $200 pre-paid credit card!
To thank all of you who entered and didn't win - and all of you who voted - I am offering a special just for you! I am offering $100 off a portrait session fee. The session can be scheduled for anytime this year - but must be booked by July 24th. Just give me a call or email jill@jillhiggins.com to take advantage of this special.
keywords: Ocean Lodge St Simons Island Wedding Photography Photographers Georgia
7 people commented on this post
Emilie and Kevin: Thanks for everybody´s warm comments and vote. The weather may not have cooperated with us on our special day, but the picture that Jill captured of Emilie´s vail flying in the wind wouldn´t have been possible without it. Thanks again, Jill, for capturing our day so wonderfully. (07/17/08, 07:01)
Nicole: Congratulations Emilie and Kevin! (07/17/08, 07:02)
Dara: I was obsessed with the fun of watching the results of this contest! Congratulations to the winners!! (07/17/08, 01:23)
Terrica: Congratulations, Emilie and Kevin!
Jill, so good to *see* you and and your fabulous work! (07/17/08, 01:23)
ruth rackley: Love that photo! Congrates to the lucky couple. (07/17/08, 11:27)
Catherine: Congratulations to Emilie and Kevin! What a great contest this was, Jill!
(07/17/08, 10:38)
Lindsi: Nice image! Lucky winners. They have a fun prize! (07/17/08, 09:53)
We are leaving for Playa del Carmen, Mexico to photograph a fabulous wedding at the Fairmont Mayakoba. When I return, I will be blogging:
-the Mexico wedding
-Spence and Jessie's beautiful wedding in Quitman, Georgia
-a family portrait session in West Palm Beach, Florida
-a session at an Orlando, Florida lake with wakeboarding world champion Raimi Merritt
-a senior session with my new representative Rachel
In the meantime - you will have a little over a week to vote for your favorite contest entry!
What does the winner receive?
The winner will receive a free night stay at the luxurious new Ocean Lodge on St. Simons Island Georgia. The stay also includes a gourmet breakfast the following morning prepared by their chef.
And guess what? I am also throwing in a prepaid credit card with a $200 balance. You can use it towards an extra night or a nice dinner...or whatever you want!
If you don't know about Ocean Lodge be sure to check it out. It is a fabulous place for a vacation or a wedding. Give Julie a call and she will be happy to help you out!
Now...on to the contest entries! There are a lot of entries below so be sure to check them all out. By the way - there is not a #2 - so don't get confused. (Sorry - I had a duplicate that I had to delete.)
Look through all the contest images - and then vote for your favorite at the bottom. You will only be allowed to vote once. The winner will be announced on July 17th!
The poll should block individuals from voting more than once. If it does not, please do not continue to vote. The IP address is shown on the admin page, and only one vote per IP address will be counted when the winner is determined.
I will post again and announce the winner when I return from Mexico on the 17th!
15 people commented on this post
Sarah Tolson: I voted for #39.. as a child portrait photog.. that was my fave. Love it.
(The others were pretty fantastic too... :) (07/17/08, 09:08)
jules: Wow, Jill. What a cool contest and GREAT prizes. You are such a great networker! I am loving #31! How did you DO that? It´s great! Please tell me you´re going to enter that in a photo contest. I love it! (07/17/08, 09:09)
erinna: sooo many great images - too hard to pick just one!
(07/11/08, 08:35)
I am super busy right now. I placed four album orders this week, and I can't wait for you to see them. I will be taking lots of pics when they come in.
Tomorrow I am planning to take most of the day off so I can enjoy the 4th with my awesome husband. Saturday I will be photographing Jessie and Spence's wedding in Quitman. Sunday and Monday I will be in West Palm Beach, Florida for a portrait session with the Merritt family.
I will get home just in time to pack up take care of a few things before heading to Playa del Carmen, Mexico for a wedding at the fabulous Fairmont Mayakoba.
Until next week, I will leave you with an image from a senior photo session that I had today. I can't wait for you to see the rest - but it will have to wait until I return from Mexico.
Isn't Rachel beautiful? She is one of my senior representatives for the 2008-2009 year.
Check back next week - my next post will be the BIG contest!
In the meantime - give a shout out to Rachel below.
keywords: senior portrait photography photographs photographers valdosta thomasville quitman moultrie tallahassee st simons island
Mike Wise: Awesome shot and an awesome senior! Love the look of your blog. :) (07/09/08, 08:53)
Michelle Morales: Beautiful image! Have fun in Mexico!! :) (07/08/08, 08:43)
K. Armstrong: My Rachel ! Can´t wait to see all the photos. (07/08/08, 03:36)
chelo: Oooh! Can´t wait to see the stuff from Mexico! (07/07/08, 02:39)
Brandi: Beautiful shot of a beautiful girl. Love the backlighting. (07/07/08, 02:39)
Catherine: What a great shot! I can´t wait to see the rest of Rachel´s senior pics and all of the wedding pictures you have coming up :) (07/06/08, 06:16)
Lisa Carpenter: ooh, I can see why she is your senior rep. She´s beautiful and I love this picture of her. Great job! (07/06/08, 02:14)
Michelle: Your blog is so beautiful! Wow, 4 albums!? I can´t wait to see photos!!!! (07/05/08, 05:30)
rachel: jill, you are SO talented! thank you SO MUCH for yesterday and everything! i can´t wait to see the rest :) (07/04/08, 07:36)
Jules: Great shot, and I love her dress. Great choice for that location because it "fits" the color palette so well. Wow, Jill, it really sounds like you´re busy! Congratulations! And have safe trips to all those fun places. :D (07/03/08, 05:06)
Dustin Izatt Photography: Oh, love it, great shot and hot senior rep ;) Hope you have an awesome 4th of July with the hubby and I can´t wait to see the Playa Del Carmen wedding, it´s gonna be hot. (07/03/08, 01:58)
Beth Baker: Rachel is not only beautiful on the outside...but beautiful on the inside! You did a wonderful job capturing her BEAUTY! (07/03/08, 01:55)
NOTE: These photos were taken with my point and shoot camera so please excuse the quality! If you are here to see portfolio work, please choose "categories" above and you will be able to find examples of wedding and portrait work.
I didn't have a wedding last weekend, so Brian and I loaded up and went to the Aucilla River. You have to love any place that requires driving down a dirt road to get there!
The driveway through the swamp might hint at the fact that there is no internet here. I have a love/hate relationship with not having internet while away! :D
Ahhh...total relaxation at the house! The guys went fishing Saturday, and my mama and I did a lot of nothing - which is something I very rarely do. My uncle, aunt, (better known as the Wicked Wench on this blog) and cousin came and spent the weekend with us too.
The Aucilla River...
Hmmm...what is that splashing in the water???
You guessed it - alligators. I only got a shot of the baby alligator, but the mama was swimming around too.
Hopefully we will have the chance to make it back soon. But don't worry - I have lots of fun weddings and portrait sessions scheduled over the next few weeks so check back for those photos.
While we were at the river we were discussing how interesting it is that some people are shocked when they see alligators, and we don't really think anything about seeing them. When we lived in Alaska, I remember how shocked I was to see moose roaming around the city, and most people there didn't think anything about it. What interesting animals do you have where you live?
Where do you go when you want to get away and relax?
15 people commented on this post
Sarah Tolson: I have a huge fear of alligators.. so that picture is not my friend!! :)
But the scenic pictures.. even with a p and s, looks great! (07/17/08, 09:09)
Kathy Puckett: Wow...what a wonderful getaway spot! I love the "wooden road" leading through the swamp.
You have way more restraint then I do to head to such a beautiful spot with only a p&s, although I can understand wanting to get away from the internet :)
Although I never would have guessed these pics were from a p&s if you hadn´t said so.
When we want to get away, we like to head out in nature as well. We love the Red River Gorge area in KY, but we often head to one of the many beautiful areas in eastern/central Tennessee (Smokey Mountains, Dale Hollow Lake, etc) because I am originally from that area. We´ve got a cabin rented at Fall Creek Falls this fall, and I can´t wait! (07/06/08, 06:16)
stephanie: when i lived in valdosta i thought it was the weirdest thing to see armadillos. my dad called them "possums on the half shell." around these parts, i still get spooked out by hermit crabs and flying roachbugs as big as birds. yuck. (07/05/08, 06:36)
Jason Tench: I finally added your blog to my blog reader!
It looks like you guys had a great time. it´s nice to get away from the internet and email sometimes :).
Jason (07/05/08, 05:30)
Claire Kayser: We have tons of RABBITS! They make our Cairn terrier go nuts!!!
Love the shots here, Jill, and the point and shoot looks great. I love my little one. Hope it was relaxing...
Take care,
Claire (07/03/08, 05:34)
Jill Higgins: Hi Dennis - I don´t think we have armadillos. Hi Sarah - cougars, really? That would be fun to see! Wicked Winch - yep...not orange and blue wearing gators for sure! Hi Cheyenne - ewww...I hate snakes! Hi Tiffany - the shower works for me too! Thanks Michelle! (07/03/08, 01:18)
Michelle Morales: Whoa! love the gator shot! :) (07/03/08, 01:28)
Tiffany Izatt: Most of the time when I want to relax...I go to the shower where there is no kids and no noise to bother me. But when it is Dustin and I time we head up to Park City where we had our first date.
When we went to Florida it was so cool seeing alligators, and we were amazed, so it does depend on where you live. (07/02/08, 07:15)
Cheyenne Schultz: Alligators? Girl....I don´t think so. Yikes!
Animals where I live...well, since you asked. We´ve been in our new townhome since November, which backs up to a woodsy type area. I came out on the porch with the dog one day and saw something out of the corner of my eye and thought "well, that´s a HUGE worm...". The next second I realized it was a dang SNAKE. I freaked out and totally embarrassed myself in front of the neighbors. Great. (07/02/08, 07:16)
wicked winch: Gorgeous shots. Beautiful colors. I have seen many shots of gators but never where you see their swimming technique (arms). Since he´s not an orange and blue polyester wearing gator I think he´s real cute.
(07/02/08, 03:35)
Sarah Burns: WOW! Yep, sure is funny the differences where people live.
Swamp is so completely different from where I live. I would have been so wigged out just driving on the "road" (I use the term loosely) through the swamp. LOL
And, gators! How cool! Here in Alberta; deer, moose, elk, bighorn sheep are all things you see along the roads. I´ve come across a cougar while hiking and grizzly bears are all over. To me those are the norm. (07/01/08, 01:37)
Dennis: Wow what a great place. It almost looks like a different country. We have armadillos who like to play on the highway. We head to a local lake about 2 hours away to relax and hit the outlets. (07/01/08, 01:37)
Lisa: That baby gator is too cute. I love his little feet.... (07/01/08, 07:41)
It has been a while since I posted a "for photographers" post, so I thought I would do so before I head out of town for the weekend. I am often asked about equipment.
Hope asked the following...
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"I am just beginning my photography business. Have done five weddings and a handful of on location portraits. I have been compared in my work to a veteran in our small town of Thomasville, however I donīt charge his prices. I am unsure really how to market myself. I do not yet have an SLR and am trying to save. Before trying to market myself to higher end clientele should I save for better equipment? The photography I have produced has been good and I have some beautiful shots. I am perplexed. Is my passion, eye, and creative flair enough to cater to all clientele without worrying about what camera I have as of yet?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, it sounds like you are off to a good start. Passion, eye, and creative flair are great - but you definitely owe it to your clients to have proper equipment. You don't have to have the most expensive equipment to produce good photos - but you do need to have the basics. Weddings are (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime event for the couple, and you should not take a chance on ruining it because of lack of equipment.
Cameras: You definitely need an SLR camera. In fact, you need two before you photograph a wedding. Cameras malfunction, and all wedding photographers should be prepared for that in case it happens in the middle of a wedding.
A good camera offers creativity and control. Without it, you are depending on your camera to make all of the decisions for you. A good photographer knows how (and has the proper equipment to allow them) to make adjustments as needed.
When shopping for a camera, all megapixels are not created equally. :D Look for a camera with a large image sensor for higher quality images. I shoot with a Canon 5D. Can you get by with a less expensive camera - absolutely. I started off with Canon 20Ds and 30Ds. But...as I moved up in price range...my clients deserved more.
Lenses: Purchasing a good camera is just a good starting point. Your lenses will set you apart. Cheap lenses are usually worthless in low light situations. Invest in good lenses as you can afford them rather than starting off with a larger collection of poor quality lenses.
I use:
1. 70-200 2.8 IS lens: I prefer to be unobtrusive when possible, and this lens allows me to do so. I always use it when couples see each other before the wedding, during the ceremony, and at the reception when I don't want people to be aware that I am photographing them. I also love the bokeh I get with it!
2. Canon 24-70 2.8L: This is my most "vanilla" lens so I don't enjoy using it much, but it is my most versatile lens. I could shoot an entire wedding with it if I had to.
3. Canon 85mm 1.8: This is my very favorite portrait lens. It produces nice, crispy images with great bokeh.
4. Canon 24mm 1.4L: This is my newest lens, and I love it. It is a great wide angle lens that I use when I want to get up close and personal or provide a more interesting perspective.
5. Canon 15mm 2.8: I love my fisheye lens, but I don't use it often. I pull it out a few times at a wedding to get a few fun and unique images.
6. Canon 100mm 2.8: This macro lens is awesome for many purposes - but I love it for killer ring shots.
*edited* I also have a Canon 50mm lens that I forgot to list because I hardly ever use it.
So...a photographer with $10,000+ in just cameras and lenses is clearly going to charge more than a photographer with a camera and fixed lens that costs under $500. And likewise, clients who spend more expect more.
If you have any questions you would like me to answer feel free to post them below or send me an email.
8 people commented on this post
Amy in SC: Jill, If you had to pick between the 85/1.8 and the 100/2.8 macro, which would you pick? I already have the 70-200 (LOVE IT) and the 24-70...I´m leaning towards the 100/2.8 for the ring shots, but I´d also like to have a 1.4 or 1.8...(I´m shooting with the 5d) (07/18/08, 07:06)
Lindsi: How do you pronounce this word- bokeh?? I know what it is. I just have never known the correct way to say it. (07/05/08, 06:36)
Jill Higgins: Hi Allison - thanks for you sweet comments. You are right - there is so much more to it that a lot of people don´t realize. Taking the pictures is just a drop in the bucket. I´ll be sure to answer your questions in future posts. :)
Hi Tiffany - I love my primes! :) (07/01/08, 07:41)
Tiffany Izatt: very good post. i see that you have some really nice primes there, one day we will own a few more primes. (07/01/08, 03:19)
Allison Richardson: Thanks for sharing Jill. I appreciate your willingness to share what you´ve learned along the way as a photographer. It can be overwhelming getting in to this business b/c it´s not all about taking good photographs...so I´ve learned. There seems to be so much more to it, like marketing, websites, processing, customer service, finding the right lab, figuring out what to offer, etc...
I almost don´t know where I would start with the questions, but I´m looking forward to your installments in this category(especially when it comes to choosing a lab). Thanks again! (06/30/08, 06:03)
Jill Higgins: Hi Lisa - glad to hear you got your new P&S!
Abby - you are not kidding! Websites, 2nd shooters, conferences, I could go on forever! :D (06/30/08, 04:08)
abby: Dont ya wish it just stopped there. Then you have to have the computer, the harddrives and all the software. Not to mention a million other must have gadgets ;) $$$$$$$ (06/29/08, 01:55)
Lisa: Jill, great post. For me, it´s hard to keep all the equipment sorted out and know what you really need. Of course, I caved and bought a new P&S but if I ever graduate, I will def refer back to this post! (06/29/08, 01:55)
