An update of sorts

Posted on March 14, 2011

It’s been a ridiculous amount of time since my last update and so much has happened (personally) that I believe it’s time for an update.

For years I’ve been dealing with health problems, which I don’t really want to get into here, but at the end of 2010 things finally came to the point where I really, really needed to do something about them. My biggest complaint is pain and while I do not have MS or Fibromyalgia, I am experiencing chronic pain that exhausts me and disrupts my workflow, quite often forcing me into bed and on medication and in so much pain that all I want to do is cry and whine about it.

Because I have family that includes four children, plus a full-time job, in addition to my part-time photography business, I’ve had to try to dedicate my efforts there. I fell ridiculously behind with my editing and to those brides and couples I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies.

In the last few months I have been to numerous doctor’s appointments and have had surgery and more appointments (all which require trips to Memphis). My surgery was a diagnostic laproscopy, which sounds like an easy-peasy, no-big-deal thing, but I had minor complications result and was in bed for five days, unable to get around. And then the pain began again. Originally my doctor believed it to be one thing and during surgery she decided my pain came from complications from the C-section I had five years ago, but apparently that’s not the cause, either (or maybe it really is and surgery didn’t fix it). They don’t know what’s wrong with me, really, and we’re still struggling to find out.

Meanwhile, I am trying different medications to help alleviate my pain and it will be July before we know if it will work. And my body doesn’t usually respond well to this type of medication, to hormones, so that is taking a toll on me as well.

I’ve had to scale back my workload with my photography business and haven’t accepted many new sessions, just because I cannot physically handle it too often. And by too often, I really mean more than once or twice a month. Going into 2011, I had several weddings already on the books and will honor those commitments, but at this time I cannot physically handle any more until I have these issues worked out.

And what that means is that this business is, essentially, on hold indefinitely.

I hate to say this because I was so excited about EDP a year ago when I started this journey. I was so excited to start 2011 with new marketing materials and wanted to ramp it up with the goal of eventually making this my full-time job. But I just can’t do it and I have to listen to my body and slow it down. Right now I need to focus on my health, focus on my family and focus on making sure our needs are met.

I want to thank the brides and the engaged couples who have been patient with me these last few months and I want to apologize to those whom I cannot accommodate. I would be more than happy to refer you to someone who can help (there are a lot of fabulous wedding and engagement photographers in the region).

Thank you for sticking with me.





A season of giving

Posted on December 5, 2010

Yesterday I joined Cassie Fox and 10 volunteers (my husband, my good friends Christa and John and also some new friends, Jennifer and Chelsea, in addition to volunteers from the Carl Perkins Center) for the first Help-Portrait event held in Tipton County.

Help-Portrait is a global initiative of photographers who want to give, with no strings attached. Photographers simply come together to give their time, talents and expertise to those in need.

It’s not about building a portfolio.

It’s not about sharing photos.

It’s not about money.

It’s all about giving.

The premise is simple: as photographers, you take photos of a family (or subjects) who wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford a session, you have those photos printed and you give them away.

We put the event together in a month and partnered with the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Families were given the opportunity to have their portraits taken and we gave our time to 14 families – 68 people total – this first year.

With the except of a few, most of Tipton County’s photographers use naturally lit, outdoor settings for their sessions and we carried that trend/tradition into this project as well (we had a backup location indoors, just in case, though). The families came to us at the Tipton County Veterans Museum and Nature Trails in Covington, where many of us conduct our sessions anyway.

Cassie and I wanted to give the full portrait experience to these families. We spent as much time as we could, for as long as they were willing (and the children cooperative), to conduct these mini-sessions. Each of these is a family under construction, whethering they are working to stay together or working to regain one another. Each has its own story and each touched our hearts.

We conducted our operation a little differently than many others. We didn’t have hair and makeup, an indoor location, snacks, Santa or on-site printing. It was too much to get together in just one month (we began organizing on Nov. 5). But in the coming weeks we will cull and edit proofs and allow our families to choose up to three sheets of the photos they’d like to hang on their walls and share with their friends. All at no cost to them.

And because we only had a month and not enough time for fundraising, Cassie and I will be footing this bill. Not that we mind, but this another way we’re different from the larger operations and those who had time to plan for donations.

Our county has been hit hard not only by the recession and the closure of factories last year, but also by the May flooding and other factors. It felt really, really wonderful to be able to give this to these families.

For me, it’s not just about taking and handing over a photo, but it’s knowing that these photos will become cherished memories for years to come that makes me proud of the work we did and proud of what we’ve set out to do.

Here’s to hoping for an ever bigger and better 2011 event!





‘Oh Sugar!’ I just can’t get enough …

Posted on November 8, 2010

WHITE/GOLD - Myla SmithA couple of months ago I was bragging about the new double EP, White/Gold, from Myla Smith and it’s still at the top of my list!

In August I shot Myla and her husband Richard’s pre-wedding reception in midtown Memphis and the week of their wedding one of my co-workers reviewed White/Gold (which was released on her wedding day). And I stole it off of his desk because I was curious. As I’ve said, sometimes when people ask you to review their music you’re hesitant because you’re not sure how good it will be and then you have this awkwardness about the whole thing, but I listened to it and loved it!

Myla wrote the entire album, sings lead and acoustic vocals and plays the acoustic guitar; Richard plays bass guitar and cello. It was co-produced by the couple during their engagement and features six songs each of two genres (folk/indie pop and country). Here’s what my co-worker Tyler had to say about it:

“The album teems with soaring, atmospheric music which couples nicely with Smith’s decadent vocal layering. In addition, the babbling, percussive backbone of songs like “Closer” lead the songs on a fun ramble through Smith’s lyrical imagery. Myla Smith’s personal signature on the country aspects of WHITE/GOLD stay true to the genre’s trademarks.”

(Note: Tyler is a much better reviewer than I am! I can’t read music and don’t know all of my instruments.)

I like to listen this while I write (by day I’m a reporter/acting editor at a small community paper) because it’s mostly upbeat and because I love the way it’s part happy love and part woman scorned. (Honestly, I purchased the new Taylor Swift album last week and I love Myla’s more.) I can’t decide which song I love the most; there’s a four-way tie between “You Are Turning Me Into Myself”, “You Can’t Keep Me Down”, “Closer” and “Radio”.

What song is YOUR favorite? You can preview songs from the album here (trust me, do it!) and leave a comment below for your chance to win a free download of White/Gold!

How to win it: FIVE lucky readers will win a copy of White/Gold (lucky you – who doesn’t love free?)! To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me the name of your favorite song on the double EP.

For additional chances to win:
1. Tweet the following, “Oh, sugar, I just can’t get enough! I want to win the @mylasmith “White/Gold” giveaway from @edayphotography!” and leave a comment linking to your public Twitter profile.
2. Link to the giveaway on your own site or public Facebook page or profile, then leave a link to your site in the comments.
3. Share your favorite lyric – and what makes it special to you!

You have until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11 to enter. Winners will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, Nov. 12. Good luck!





It’s all about giving.

Posted on November 5, 2010

There is an amazing movement in the global photography industry called Help-Portrait, a movement where photographers come together to give their time, talents and expertise to those in need.

It’s not about building a portfolio.

It’s not about sharing photos.

It’s not about money.

It’s all about giving.

The premise is simple: as photographers, you take photos of a family (or subjects) who wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford a session, you have those photos printed and you give them away.

I follow the movement’s founder, Jeremy Cowart of Nashville, on Twitter and had heard of it, and have heard of the project but never took the time to read about it until today. It’s a wonderful movement with which I’m proud to be involved.

The global event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 4 and I’m working with other local photographers to organize an event locally. Tipton County was hit hard by the recession, leaving more than 1100 people jobless after factory lay-offs and closures. There are broken families, families struggling with overcoming addiction, family struggling with overcoming tragedy. And these families are just that, families.

And every family needs a portrait.

That’s what this project is about: giving families the portrait they can’t afford to have taken.

One day next month a group of photographers will gather together, we’ll set up our equipment and we’ll spend the day capturing portraits of families in need. We’ll print these photos for them and give them away, no strings attached.

Giving. That’s what it’s all about.

(If you’re a local photographer, I invite you to join us.)





Closing out 2010

Posted on October 30, 2010

My posting here has been inconsistent lately and for that I apologize. There’s so much I want to say, so many images I am eager to share with you and a few changes I need to announce, but first I must get through my editing.

Since August I have been busier with this business than I imagined. I am so, so grateful! It’s a wonderful feeling to set modest goals and exceed those. October has brought a session every weekend (except this one) and November is already completely booked!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

I decided in September I would only take a limited number of family sessions in addition to my usual engagement sessions and wedding and as October drew to a close, I realized I would need to put a cap on the number of remaining sessions, period. I offered my last three sessions to Facebook fans this week and now they’re all booked, meaning I am completely booked for the remainder of 2010.

I  am reserving December as behind-the-scenes time, where I will focus on making changes necessary for the upcoming year in addition to celebrating the holidays (and three birthdays!) with my family.

I will begin booking 2011 engagement sessions on November 15, 2010 – and if you book your e-session or wedding by November 30, you’ll still receive the 2010 price. (I generally only take one wedding per month and January and March have been booked.)

I will take a limited number of family sessions (usually 3-5) each quarter because I truly love engagement and couples sessions and weddings, this is where I want to continue my focus in 2011.

I have also started a referral rewards program where word of mouth advertising can earn you free photos!

Again, I want to thank each and every one of you for reading, for being a fan and for being a client. So far this journey has been fantastic for me (and for you too, I hope) and I only plan for bigger and better things in 2011!





Announcing: It’s all about FAMILY!

Posted on August 13, 2010

Now booking family sessions!Fridays are great days for announcements, aren’t they?

If you’ve seen the new Macaroni Kid-Tipton newsletter or are an Echo Day Photography fan on Facebook, you may know that I am now accepting a limited number of family sessions!

Family sessions were not in my original plans, I admit, but the demand is there.

I use “it’s all about love” as one of my taglines and, as a mother of four, I know that celebrating the love of a family is one of the most important things you can do. Not only do I want to help you celebrate the love you have for your partner and your children, but I want to capture that love so you can always cherish these memories and these feelings.

The holidays are also approaching and what better time to have your family portraits taken?

I am currently booking family sessions for September, October and November. All you have to do is call for free consultation – 731.612.2723!





It’s a Love Story: Raechyl & Keith

Posted on August 9, 2010

For week, you have voted and with more than 21,000 votes, the winners of the first-ever Love Story giveaway are Raechyl and Keith!

Their story:

Keith and I met in December 2004, when he started working at Naifeh’s grocery store in Munford, TN. What started out as co-workers, grew into friendship, and followed with a high school summer romance full of fireworks, long conversations on the trampoline in my parent’s backyard, and tons and tons of movie dates. Once football season started, I was sure that we would grow apart since I had to get to drum rehearsal, and he had to put on that gorgeously hot football uniform and get back into the game he had played since he was 5 years old. Lucky me, however, he asked me to be his girlfriend instead, and we officially became a couple on the first day of our senior year of high school.

Love has never meant as much to me as it has the past 6 years. Many people go their whole lives without feeling the way Keith makes me feel every single day, and I feel truly blessed to have met him so early in my life. Our relationship has only grown stronger through high school and going to college together, and I can’t wait to start spending forever with him when we get married next September. He truly makes me believe that there are millions of people in this world, but in the end, it all comes down to one….

This couple, set to marry in September 2011 at Davies Manor Plantation, has won a free session, $50 print credit, 10 web-sized photos for social networking and a soft-bound photo book containing 10-15 images from their session AND their detailed love story.

And because I’m a softie and I really wanted everyone to win, I’m also giving away more!

Our runners up, Maegan and Will, have received a free session, $50 print credit and 10 web-sized photos for social networking. Maegan worked so hard to get votes, pouring her heart and soul into driving her friends and family to the poll, that I couldn’t let this couple walk away empty-handed. (Plus, I want to find out the secret to not fighting! lol.)

As a thank-you to the other couples who entered, if you book a session with me by October 1, you will receive 10 percent off of your print order.

Thank you to EVERYONE who voted and made this giveaway a success!





Vote for your favorite couple!

Posted on August 1, 2010

It’s Election Week for many parts of the country, including right here in the Volunteer State. I could not be happier to see Election Day come and go myself, but in the spirit of things I’m having an election of sorts right here on the blog!

Are you ready to choose a couple to win the Love Story giveaway? I definitely am!

We have five couples who’ve entered, but only one wins! Each couple has sent in their love story and is relying on YOUR votes to win a $200 prize pack, which includes a free session, $50 print credit, 10 web-sized photos for social networking and best of all, a soft-bound photo book containing 10-15 images AND their detailed love story!

And, without further ado, our couples!

Maegan & Will

My name is Meagan and the love of my life is Will. I found him on Myspace and after chatting him up for a while we met on Christmas Eve morning in 2007. I knew right away that he was something special.

We began dating on February 3, 2008, a day I would later come to think as one of the best days of my life. He is the perfect other half of me, I love him with everything in me and it blows my mind that he feels the same.

Never did I believe in the fairytale “The One”, but now I know I have found mine. I know that in him I have found the perfect person for me who will always be by my side no matter what, the one person I can always turn to, who will love me unconditionally.

We’ve had our rough times, but have never fought, we have mastered the art of compromise. I love him with all my heart and soul and plan to spend the rest of my life with the man who makes me feel like the happiest woman in the world.

Ashley & Eddie

My mom always told me to not to talk to people I didn’t know online. However, I rarely listened. So in August 2007 when I received a friend request on Facebook from a good-looking guy, I let what my mom said to me slip out of my head as I clicked “accept”.

Over the next year, we talked every once in a while via comments, messages and texts. The following August we decided it was time to meet in person. We agreed to meet at a country bar where our friends usually hung out. The moment I met him, I knew I had to get to know him more. So that night, we talked, laughed and slow danced until 2 a.m.
Three months after that night, Eddie asked me to marry him. I, of course, said yes.

Almost ten months later and 6 months pregnant, we walked into the county clerk’s office to get our marriage license. The lady helping us asked when we would like to get married. We said “how about now?” (which was six days earlier than expected). So in a tank top, jeans, flip flops, no make up and my hair thrown up in a messy bun, I married my best friend.

In the almost two years that we’ve been together, we’ve been engaged, moved from Virginia Beach to Tipton County, gotten married and had a little girl. Most people would think we rushed but we felt it was right from the start.

Jenni & Jim

My name is Jenni and I met my husband, Jim a little over 10 years ago after both of us went through a divorce with 2 young children a piece from each marriage.  A close mutual friend of ours introduced us over the Internet in a chat room that we frequented to find things to do with other singles that also had children.  When we went on our first date I would have to say that he was like no other man I had ever met or went on a date with…the perfect gentleman.

We decided to take things slow and after 3 years of courting we found a house in the country and moved from Shelby County to Tipton County so that we could raise our kids together and so that my kids would be in a great school system.  I have always felt that Rascal Flatts “Bless the Broken Road” was always a great theme song for us!

After a month of being in our new home, he proposed and we were married on April 23, 2005.  We do civil war reenacting so we had a civil war wedding on the back side of our property.  In just a little over a year later we were blessed with our own baby boy.

We now lead a very busy life with 4 older children (16, 15, 12 and 12) and our boy who is now 4 years old.  We are very active with Brighton Baseball, the 4 older children are in band at three different schools, participating in plays at the Ruffin in Covington and just enjoying our life with family and friends!

Jennifer & Austin

We met on the Millington Naval Base both working at McDonalds in the summer of 2005. I remember he was standing against the wall staring at me, and I said “Um, hello?” wondering what kind of weirdo he was. Covered in tattoos, and a shaved head, he was certainly different from any guy I ever had a crush on.

In the beginning, he insisted we hang out, and I insisted it be on a friends basis only. That first night changed my mind instantly. I had a blast, and was so comfortable with him. Ever since, we’ve been inseparable.

We are best friends and lovers. We have a beautiful son, and August 17 will be our 3rd anniversary in marriage. The key to our relationship is support. We have been through so much together. I am in nursing school to become an RN, the past couple of years have been a long road with a lot of tears for me, and fear. My husband has stood beside me, praying with me and wiping my tears. I graduate in December with my Associate’s degree, and I couldn’t have made it without him and his support after all these long nights of no dinner cooked, unable to watch a movie, unable to go out because I’ve had to study.. he’s been understanding the entire time.

I’ve also supported him with all the struggles he has came across. He has been laid off of work twice in our marriage. The most recent lay off occurred in September of last year, he just landed a great job for RailServe and we are so very blessed. The financial burden falls on my husband as he is currently our sole provider, and he’s had many hard months of unemployment until now. I hope he knows how proud I am of him for not giving up. Our son is our joy, and is the brightest, happiest child we know. We are very close to our families and live within 10 minutes of both sides. With a lot of struggle and unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we made it. We can see it, and we did it together.

By the way, all those tattoos grew on me ;)

Raechyl & Keith

Keith and I met in December 2004, when he started working at Naifeh’s grocery store in Munford, TN. What started out as co-workers, grew into friendship, and followed with a high school summer romance full of fireworks, long conversations on the trampoline in my parent’s backyard, and tons and tons of movie dates. Once football season started, I was sure that we would grow apart since I had to get to drum rehearsal, and he had to put on that gorgeously hot football uniform and get back into the game he had played since he was 5 years old. Lucky me, however, he asked me to be his girlfriend instead, and we officially became a couple on the first day of our senior year of high school.

Love has never meant as much to me as it has the past 6 years. Many people go their whole lives without feeling the way Keith makes me feel every single day, and I feel truly blessed to have met him so early in my life. Our relationship has only grown stronger through high school and going to college together, and I can’t wait to start spending forever with him when we get married next September. He truly makes me believe that there are millions of people in this world, but in the end, it all comes down to one….

Aren’t these couples fantastic?

Voting begins NOW and will continue until 11:59 p.m. CST on August 8! Vote as many times as you’d like here on the blog and hop on over to the EDP Facebook page to “like” your favorite couple’s photo and story; I will combine the two numbers (votes here plus Facebook “likes”) to determine the winning couple.

Good luck, everyone!






Love Story: Ashley & Eddie

Posted on July 27, 2010

“The moment I met him, I knew I had to get to know him more. So that night, we talked, laughed and slow danced until 2 a.m.”

Meet Ashley & Eddie, another couple in the running to win the Love Story giveaway!

Beginning next week, you will have the chance to vote for them or for one of the other couples who’ve entered to win my first-ever EDP giveaway.

To do so takes some participation, though:

It’s a contest! Send me the best snapshot of you and your significant other – your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend – and a brief history of the two of you as a couple. I’ll post the photos and histories here on the blog and the couple with the most votes wins a free session, $50 print credit, 10 web-sized photos for social networking and best of all, a soft-bound photo book containing 10-15 images AND your detailed love story! This is a prize valued at more than $200.

The catch? No catch, really, except you have to live in West Tennessee (from the Tennessee River to the Mississippi River, Newbern down to Memphis) and be willing to be photographed. Easy, peasy!

But I’m not engaged … It doesn’t matter if you’re a new couple or one who’s been married for 40 years, everyone needs to be in pictures! You can make “Facebook Official” look even better, have photos for the newspaper engagement announcement, make up for not having wedding photos, mark an anniversary, announce an impending arrival or just celebrate couple-dom. You don’t need a reason to capture the love you share!

Ready? Set? Go! Send a snapshot of you and your love to echodayphotography@gmail.com – and don’t forget to tell me a little bit about you! Or, you can surprise your favorite couple by nominating them (and who doesn’t love surprises?)!

Contest rules (aw, man!): You must be 18 years or older to submit an entry; one entry per couple. Entries must be made by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Voting will begin on Monday, Aug. 2 and end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8. Winners will be announced by Aug. 12. Entrants must live in West Tennessee and must use their session by Oct. 31, 2010. This is also an anti-discriminatory zone; couples of any age, race or sexual orientation are welcomed to enter.





It’s a Love Story: Meagan & Will

Posted on July 12, 2010

Meet Meagan and Will! They’re the first couple to be entered into the Love Story giveaway.

This is what Meagan says:

My name is Meagan and the love of my life is Will. I found him on Myspace and after chatting him up for a while we met on Christmas Eve morning in 2007. I knew right away that he was something special.

We began dating on February 3, 2008, a day I would later come to think as one of the best days of my life.

He is the perfect other half of me, I love him with everything in me and it blows my mind that he feels the same. Never did I believe in the fairytale “The One”, but now I know I have found mine. I know that in him I have found the perfect person for me who will always be by my side no matter what, the one person I can always turn to, who will love me unconditionally.

We’ve had our rough times, but have never fought, we have mastered the art of compromise. I love him with all my heart and soul and plan to spend the rest of my life with the man who makes me feel like the happiest woman in the world.

Want to share your love story for a chance to win a free session, $50 print credit, 10 web-sized photos for social networking and best of all, a soft-bound photo book containing 10-15 images AND your detailed love story? What are you waiting for? Enter today!





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