Ahhh, finally! It’s that time of year when I have just a wee bit of time for personal projects. Albums from last year’s weddings are pretty much designed and done. 2012 weddings and portraits won’t start for a couple of more weeks. Now is the time when I can do a few things that I’ve been putting off for a while.

This year I’m working on some books and the first one I want to get done is a jaunt I took to Asia back in 2006. I can’t even believe that it’s been over five years since that trip so I’m thinking it’s actually time to go back and visit a few places I missed.

I’ve started this project a couple of times. The cover is designed. A lot of the images have been prepared. But, there’s still some work to be done and then I have to put it all together. In going back through the photographs it’s kind of interesting how time changes your perspective on things. You forget some things and thankfully we have photographs to pull a little bit on the memory and bring things back. Forgotten but not gone so to speak. And then there’s the photographs that really didn’t speak much to me when I first edited them shortly after returning from the trip. I’m seeing some of them in a different way and I’m actually glad I let a little time go by before I finished this project.

Anyway, here is one of my favorites from that trip. It was taken in a market area in Hanoi, but this little area was tucked away from the craziness that exists in most of these markets. It was a quiet little courtyard with beautiful light and I’m sure that the vendor enjoys this little place where they prepare their foods for sale out on the street.

Every so often I get a chance to meet wedding professionals who are new to the area. I love meeting new people anyway, but it is always a treat to have a chat over coffee or lunch with the people from other places who are in the wedding business and bring a different perspective or fresh ideas with them. So, I was very happy when Michele Robb of The Perfect Fairytale contacted me and wanted to introduce herself. I invited her over to the studio so she could see firsthand what I offer my clients and to find out a little more about what she does as a wedding planner.

I really enjoyed my talk with Michele and it became apparent during our conversations about various things as they pertain to the wedding planning process that she was very interested in making sure her clients were matched with vendors that suited them. I’ve always felt that when it comes to photography, I’m not the choice for everyone whether it be an issue of style, budget or personality so her thoughts resonated with me very much. I like it when objectivity is involved in the planning process and business relationships are put aside.

“I try to select vendors based on their experience and creativity shown in their work,  their professionalism and their personality”, Michele said. “When I select my preferred photographers, I find them strictly by their photographs on their website and blog sites. A photographer is one of the most important vendors in a wedding because they truly capture the day with each moment and event that takes place. They need to be artistic, creative, and amazing with their photography angles and ideas. If I do not like what a photographer showcases on their website, I wouldn’t make them a preferred vendor. – I absolutely have to love their photography because I know that is what my clients would like as well.”

Welcome to Roanoke, Michele. I think you will find this an awesome place for weddings and you’ll find a wedding community that is friendly and open, always willing to share.

In less than 8 years, nearly 14,000 homeless animals have found their forever homes because the Roanoke Valley SPCA was there to help them. It is once again my pleasure to photograph some of the SuperStars of the RVSPA’s Puppy Love Ball. Each of the dogs below has been adopted through the RVSPCA and as you can tell from this gorgeous pack of pups, the RVSPCA has all you’ll need when looking for your next pet.

So, mark your calendars for Saturday, April 28, 2012 at The Hotel Roanoke. Or, if you are unable to attend the event, donations to the RVSPCA can be made here.

As always, a great big THANK YOU to all the volunteers and contributors who help the RVSPCA find all those forever homes!