Computer Drama...Llama?

So, how many of you have had computer problems before - raise your hand?

Now that your hands are all in the air - like you just don't care, as a mater of fact - I'd like to join you.

For the past week our DSL (yes, I know...I know) has been acting "goofy." It would connect, then disconnect, making it quite difficult to get photos up online and emails returned in a timely manner.

So after haggling with Verizon's Customer Service reps for two days in a row (now how many of you try and fix the problem yourself? Yep, me too) I got desperate. Not just frustrated I'm moving on - but literally crying in front of our computer with modems, routers and wires in my lap. It was not one of my brightest moments.

My hubbie lovingly coaxed me away and encouraged me to seek help - not the mental kind, although at that moment it may have been helpful - but technical help. I made the call at 9:30pm that night.

Less than 24 hours later Jason, owner of J.A.C.E. Computers, was over with a new router and installed it lickety split.

What amazed me - aside from his computer genius - was that during the hour he was working away I got more done around our apartment than I have in a long while. I mean I cleaned the kitchen up, did the dishes, started on a project for Tuttle Cameras (info coming soon Lightroom fans! Watch for details), dreamed up some fabulous new marketing ideas, etc.

It made me realize how wasted the nearly two-hours I spent crying and on the phone with Verizon were. Jason completed in one hour what I wasted nearly twice as long trying to accomplish. Wow.

And it taught me a very valuable lesson: pay the professional.

So, Jason - if you read this - thank you. Refreshed and re-connected to the internet world I look forward to paying your invoice; it was worth every cent!


Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Wedding Tip or Trick of the Week

Getting the Most from Your Portraits

Do you find yourself drooling over fabulous photographs of couples playing in fountains, rolling in the waves or in creatively inspired locations? Wondering how you, too, can get amazing photographs like this on your wedding day?

Great! Here are a few helpful hints:

*Schedule plenty of time in your wedding day to take creative portraits. Being skilled and seasoned in working with various amounts of time, we create beautiful works of art of you and your new spouse; however, the best results - often the ones you see on our website or blog - are created when the couple schedules at least 20-minutes of time to capture moments of the couple alone.
*Talk with your photographer before your wedding day about what you'd like from your scheduled alone time.
*Be sure to give your location and schedule information to your photographer in well in advance. This allows the photographer to plan out your time, so the spontaneous moments between you and your spouse can take place in an ideal location.

Another great way to capture those amazing photographs of you and your new spouse is to schedule a "Day After" session. These sessions are typically taken the day after your wedding nearby your hotel, or room accommodations. "Day After" shoots can take place nearby or at a destination and can be casual, romantic, fun, clean or dirty (ie. the sand near the ocean type of locations); sessions typically last 1-3 hours.

Talk to us today about scheduling your "Day After" session to get the most out of your wedding photography!



Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

On the Other Side...

So a few weeks back a photographer friend of mine, Curtis Bailey (website coming soon), helped me out by recreating beyond fabulous head shots for me.

I've been wanting to redo the head shot that was forever on my website - the one my loving hubbie took last year. And Curtis was the only photographer I considered when I was preparing to go behind the lens.

Here are the results - photographed and retouched by Curtis Bailey.








Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

New! Modern Book Album

I'm so excited to announce our new album option, the Modern Book. I just received my sample book today and it's lovely!

The difference between this album, and what we've been offering, is primarily the cover. The inside pages are still flushmount designed and printed. However, the Modern Book offers a double-thick image cover with matching dust jacket as opposed to the leather bound option.

Pricing is as follows:
8x8 for $800
10x10 for $1,000
12x12 for $1,250

Right now, and current or prospective couples can add this book to their package for 10% off! Special pricing is available for new orders only; it's not available in lieu of any current package items and is not available for substitution.

Contact us today to place your order!





Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Kids Adventure: "Super-U"

Monday started the beginning of our third annual Kids Adventure (aka. VBS) program at our church, The River. In years past we've been disappointed with small turnouts, but this year God did something big - we had over 40 kids show up the first night alone.

Our week long program is amazingly created by Kidmo, a company that specializes in creating excellent Bible teaching DVDs for kids. Children's Director Lisa runs the program with energy, excitement and a passion that I've yet to see replicated by any children's program director.

"Super-U" is this year's theme and it focuses on teaching kids how to Choose Wisely, Trust God, Live Life on Purpose, Hang Tough and Take Risks for God. The programs main character Johnny Rogers uses a multitude of kid friendly (and lets be honest, adults dig it too)graphics, cartoon, live action, and even puppetry - reminiscent of a homemade Mr. Rogers Neighborhood - when it's called for.

What's so exciting this year is not only the number of kids lives will be touched with the message of Jesus' love for them, but the number of quality adults giving of their time, talent and treasure to serve every night this week. We have engineers, teachers, nurses and more professionals serving kids in K-6th grade; wow, what a blessing.

So, because I rarely post without some photography included, here are a few of my favorite photographs from the past few nights. Enjoy!














Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Brad & Mindy's Wedding

Congratulations Brad & Mindy!

The happy, and oh so sweet, couple wed Saturday, July 19 at Calvary Chapel High Desert.

Following they had their reception at the beautiful Spring Valley Lake Country Club in Victorville, CA. The Event Director, Trisha, did a fabulous job and coordinating everything at their reception.

Scott Allen Productions provided the emcee and DJ services for the afternoon reception.

It was such a beautiful day and I'm so happy I was invited to be a part of it. Thank you, Brad & Mindy. May your future be richly blessed!









Above photography by Assistant Christina Vejar.








Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Driving Home - iMix

Today I found myself headed home on the I-15 fwy from Brad and Mindy's wedding in Hesperia (watch for a preview post soon!).

As I hit the road I had to "pump some jams," as they say, and I found this mix particularly enjoyable.

Give it a listen - lots of fun.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Todd & Frances's Wedding

Todd & Frances had a lovely wedding this past weekend that I was invited to photograph. Their special day started at the Wayfarer's Chapel in Palos Verdes followed by an evening reception at Simon's Banquet Center in San Pedro.

It was so fun working in my home town - so to speak - shooting in the South Bay area. But it's a fun challenge working in so many different beautiful places.

Here are a few of my favorites from their day. Enjoy!















Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Evan & Nicole's Wedding

Evan & Nicole had a beautiful wedding this past Sunday evening at The Hacienda in Santa Ana. This super fun couple had their closest friends and family join them as they wed, after six years together. Wow!

I had so much fun photographing their wedding. Recently I heard the concept that a photographer's work is largely based on his/her emotion. It's apparent in that two different people, feeling different emotions, can photograph the same scene and come out with two diversely different photographs.

While at Evan & Nicole's wedding my concept/feeling/mood/emotion at their wedding can be described as passionately immersed. I think the photographs from their wedding, as you'll see, convey this well (and beautifully if I say so myself).

Evan & Nicole's eclectic taste in music showed during their reception, at which Showcase DJ did a fabulous job providing the amazing tunes for the evening. Their first dance was to John Legend's "Slow Dance" and the Mother-Son dance was to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

The night ended with lots of laughing and dancing by just about everyone there. Nicole and Evan even required me to have the last dance with my assistant, who happened to be my hubby Matt. (Thanks! It was a fabulous dance.)

Wedding Photo Essay:

Let me take a moment to comment on these two images. These were photographed towards the end of the evening one of the bridesmaid's significant other showed up. Something powerful, emotional, and lovely was taking place between them - in a very subtle way. I stood back and had the opportunity to take these photographs. These photographs make me want to listen to Coldplay's "Rush..." album. They are two of my favorite from this night because the mood and emotion in them speaks so loudly, yet, just like the couple they are very subtly portrayed.