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.

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!

This is what I’m working on:

1. Jamie & Jacob’s wedding

2. Meagan & Will’s love session

3. Morgan & David’s wedding

4. Ashtyn & Matt’s engagement session

I intend to have the first two sessions listed fully edited by Sunday and the other two by Dec. 12.

Thanks so much for your patience!

Happy Thanksgiving – hope you enjoy turkey, family and making memories!

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!

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.)

Jamie and Jacob were married on October 16, 2010 at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church, the oldest church in Tipton County. Their wedding took place at sunset and we’d planned on shooting photos inside the church following the ceremony because we knew we’d run out of daylight.

When we went outside to leave for the reception, I noticed there were lights above the doors (and cue the angels singing!). This shot is one of my favorites from their wedding day, which I am still working on editing. More photos soon, I promise, but I couldn’t not share this one!

I have always loved the scene from The Wedding Planner where Mary (Jennifer Lopez) says she can determine the length of a couple’s marriage by their song and color selections for their wedding. Of course it’s not really true and is a great gauge in theory, but I prefer the body language route. You can tell a lot about a couple by the way they interact, by the way they look at each other, by the things they do for one another when they think no one’s watching.

Adam and Nikki have great body language and a connection that is easy, comfortable and not at all awkward.

We met at the gazebo on the square in Covington and started shooting there, then moved to various spots around it. Adam mentioned going over to Lucci’s Pasta House for a couple of quick shots and, lucky us, they didn’t mind. They even allowed us to take over their chalkboard!

(Side note: The awards you see the wall are for two first place wins in this year’s Best of the Best readers’ choice poll, which was done through the newspaper where I spend my days. The awards are well-deserved, too. I picked up lasagne (delicious!) today and the interior has changed already! lol.)

I thought the way they held onto each other as they watched Brandy draw the heart and their initials was adorable. And then it was Adam’s turn to play with the chalk.

He’s writing their wedding date … and he got it correct! Way to go, Adam.

Don’t you love the way they look at one another? Some couples would give anything to be transported back in time for just one more look like that.

We also shot a few photos in Adam’s parents’ backyard – it was gorgeous! The pink blooms matched Nikki’s sweater perfectly.

We still had time and light, so we continued with our session. Next stop? The always popular railroad tracks. This time we shot on some old tracks that are no longer in use and afterwards we shot some by a warehouse-type of building that is currently being renovated by the city. Adam’s job was to look for snakes – I delegate this task to every man I know. I am terrified of snakes.

Our last stop was a cotton field, tucked away between the trees. Usually cotton is picked by this time, but we found a field that hadn’t been touched yet (thank you, Adam!). Cotton field photos are super popular in the South, though this was my first one. I’m very proud of the way they turned out.

Nikki and Adam, thank you so much! I loved working with you two and wish you nothing but the best in your future.

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!

When I have a couple or a bride in front of my lens, I make sure I capture the little symbol – that metal and those stones – which share with the world a sacred promise between two people.

With no beginning and no end, the band’s shape represents an unbroken promise of love and commitment.

This weekend I had two sessions and was inspired to try a few new things. The vertical photo above is from Saturday’s engagement session with Adam & Nikki and features Nikki’s ring tucked into a cotton boll (this shot inspired by Simply Bloom Photography); horizontal photos are from Morgan and Davey’s session on Sunday and feature Morgan’s ring with weathered barn wood and tied into Davey’s hat band.

When our family friend Amy, who will be married in January, and her mother Mona came to visit last month, we shot bridals in nearly pitch black darkness; we were lucky to get a few ring and flower shots in at dusk (top left). Above, bottom left, Joshua and Erika heated things up in Mason and gladly showed off Erika’s ring. The other two photos are of my own ring …

Today before my session with Morgan and Davey, I snapped on my 50 mm 1.4 and decided to take a few more detail shots of my own rings.

I really wanted to contrast the textures in the photo, mixing the smooth diamonds with weathered wood from our deck and a tree stump in our yard (and later more glass; the yellow bud vase was a wedding gift from my husband’s cousin, Tobin, and wife wife Marta).

My husband, God bless him, likes to take his ax or chainsaw and just chop down random trees. He has a myriad of reasons, such as needing firewood (we have a gas fireplace) or getting an RC copter stuck in the tree and having to chop the tree down to get it out. Our next door neighbors think chopping down trees is what he does when he’s mad (ha). The RC copter tree has left us with one of many stumps and, well, today it was my prop (which means it was finally good for something).

I pretty much adore this series!

The bud vase was a complete accident, I have to mention. I came inside to download the photos and saw the vase sitting next to the computer – I just had to prop my ring on top and test it out. The light was gorgeous (!) and I love how the white laptop case and my sea green walls were blurred because of the depth of field, making it look so smooth as a background.

Photos of rings can sometimes be difficult to get – check back later this week for Quick Tips on taking better engagement ring pics! It’s one you definitely won’t want to miss, especially if you’re sporting a shiny new rock and you still need to share pictures!

Railroad tracks are one of my most popular requests since Joshua and Erika hit the blog this spring. (What can I say? Joshua and Erika rocked it!) When Kimberly contacted me about a family + couples session, I made a return to the tracks to capture two different types of love.

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”

Meet Allie. She’s two and took some time to warm up to me. She finally decided throwing rocks would be the way to do that, so I did what any other photographer would do and invited her to throw rocks at me. It kinda worked.

I caught this little smile while using my sister-in-law Kelly’s technique with my nephew: “You can’t smile! You don’t know how to smile! I bet you can’t smile at me …” Yes, reverse psychology works on two-year-olds.

I’ll never forget Allie for three reasons: She was the first person I’d ever asked to throw rocks at my head, she decided she was going to use the bathroom when we were in the middle of couples shots with Mommy and Daddy and because it took a stray dog to finally make her happy.

This dog came out of nowhere, made Allie smile and was ready to leave minutes later. She wanted to take the dog home with her – how adorable!

In between shots with Allie, we did our best to get some photos with just Mommy and Daddy, Allie-willing, that is.

Thank you, Kimberly, Allie & Jacob! It has been my pleasure working with you!

My focus with Echo Day Photography is primarily on couples – from brand new couples those well-seasoned, and everywhere in between – but I am accepting a limited number of family sessions for the 2010 holiday season. There are only five spots left this year! To book yours, please call 731.612.2723 or send an email to echodayphotography@gmail.com.