Yearly Archives: 2009

Anniversary (a little late)

I realized that a little over a month ago, it was my 2 year anniversary.  With my camera.  Ohhh, what a wonderful 2 years it's been!  When I step back and think about it, I still can't believe I am where I am today.  I remember when I first started out in my photography journey - there were SO many times I thought about giving up on my dream.  It was SO much work to just "figure it out" on my own, with no one to guide me but the photography books I bought (I could probably fill a bookshelf with the books I now have!).  But even though it was such hard work (harder than I ever expected) in the beginning, I realized something - even though it was hard, frustrating, and time consuming, I LOVED it.  I loved every minute of it.  I just absolutely got lost in photography, every free moment I had.  Whether it was reading books to figure out what the heck I was doing, or just walking around the city practicing with Jay, I discovered I really had a passion for it.  And someone recently told me (can't remember who) - if you can't go a day without thinking about something, you should never give it up.  If you had told me one year earlier, graduating from Penn State with an accounting degree, that in the next year I would start my own wedding photography business, I would have told you that you were CRAZY.  But here I am, two years later, LOVING where life and photography has taken me.  I've learned so much, I've discovered my passion, and I realize I have a drive that I never knew existed in me.  But I was, and am, totally DETERMINED to make it work.  No matter what.

I've also met some amazing people along the way, that I'm truly thankful to have in my life now.  Heather was my very first photography friend, and I absolutely, with out a doubt, believe I wouldn't be at the point I am today without her.  She helped me in the very beginning with the basics, let me tag along to a few weddings, and always answers my endless questions over g-chat.  She is the sole person that made me realize it IS possible for me to follow my dream, and is a constant encouragement to follow that path.  For that I will be forever grateful of her.  I also met Gail at the MJ 2 Day workshop I attended this past May - I feel like we've been friends forever!  I absolutely LOVE having a friend that is in the same stage of her business as I am - just to chat about photography, vent about being INSANELY busy, and share little tips with each other....it's another friendship I'm blessed to have - can't wait until you visit in April Gail!

So Happy Anniversary.....to me...and my camera:)  What a great ride it's been so far - can't WAIT to see what it holds for my future:)

And to end the post, here is a picture of something new that I love - lately I've been LOVING night time photography, and I want to do more night time photo-shoots in the city:)   (Oh yeah, I love you too Jaime....but you already knew that:)  This picture was taken with the ever-coveted 50mm 1.2.  Ahhh, I can only dream to have that lens some day soon!

Philadelphia Wedding Picture

show hide 5 comments

Joan - December 5, 2009 - 7:48 pm

You really have come a long way Tina! I’m so excited for you and proud of you! I’m excited that you found something that you have a passion for; I don’t think I have something like that. So, good for you and much luck to you in the future pursuing your dream! Love to you too!!!

Maria - December 4, 2009 - 6:08 pm

Hi dear!

Just wanted to let you know I love your site and especially loved reading this blog post! You are always an inspiration and your photos are so beautiful. I’m so glad Ro picked you to be her photographer and showed me the pics, I’ve loved reading your blog posts ever since! They gave me the courage and inspiration to try it out and learn more about it (after 10 years of wanting to, I finally bought a camera and started and your pics were a huge huge part of that push!)

Anyways, just wanted to let you know that you are amazing and I appreciate all of the tips and mentoring that YOU gave to me. :) I love that you had someone to show you the way, and now you’re paying it forward. Love it!

Keep doing what you’re doing, you have an amazing talent! Oh, and Happy Holidays!!

Mary - December 4, 2009 - 10:25 am

Love you! It feels great to look back and see that we have developed into something more than catchphrase addicted freshman ;)

Jaime - December 4, 2009 - 9:57 am

Yay to you Tina – you’ve come such a long way in 2 years, I’m SO proud of you!! And I will be your subject for night time shooting anything :)

Gail - December 3, 2009 - 10:11 pm

Ahhhhh…Tina, you’re the BEST! And I’m right there with you on realizing just how far I’ve come in 2 years! I can remember that 2 years ago, if you’d have asked me to shoot an event manually, I would have FREAKED! We’re so busy looking forward, we don’t look back often enough!

Bravo friend, bravo!!!

PS – Is it April yet? ;)

Thanksgiving Week

Woah....it's been over a week since I've blogged - I never do that! It's been a crazy, no-internet-connection filled week. Jay and I are out in Pittsburgh visiting his family for the holiday, so that's what I'm blaming my lack of blogging on. I managed to pack in some wedding planning over the holiday - this morning I went dress shopping with Jay's mom, my step-mom and one of my bridesmaids, Lib....and I think I just might have found a dress! I'll obviously be doing more dress shopping because I feel like one store just isn't enough, but it's nice that I at least have one in mind that I really like. And even though everyone warned me, I found out it's true - you really have to try on things you think you might not even like, because it looks totally different on your body than it does on the hanger. The one I ultimately liked the best I almost didn't even try on because it didn't seem "me". Good thing I did, because it ended up being my favorite:)

Jay and I also went shopping on Black Friday. Why I thought that would be an awesome idea, I have no idea. We saw so many good deals in the newspaper that we decided to try it out - but Jay lasted all of 10 minutes before he said "we gotta get out of here. Now." So we ended up going to Panera to get an internet connection and just shopped online instead:) I also FINALLY bought some frames for our house - I've been meaning to print out pictures I've taken to decorate our walls - which are still TOTALLY bare - so now I feel like I'm forced to get around to it since we're hosting Christmas. Oh yeah, that's right, we're hosting Christmas. Well it's actually Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after that we'll be having people over. I think we may have gotten in a liiiiiittle over our heads with this one. Good thing Jay cooks, because I'm clueless:) Anywho, I think I'm going to print this picture to put in one of our frames.....I LOVE door steps in Philly, especially when they're decorated for a season:

091022-stoop-001

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

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Gail - December 2, 2009 - 7:52 am

Ahhh…I love that stoop! And GOOD LUCCCKKKK with the hosting responsibilities girl! May your luck be better than the Griswalds! haha

Sarah - November 29, 2009 - 5:21 pm

So exciting! Can’t wait to hear if you decide on that ‘first favorite’ dress or not :)

Brookside Country Club Wedding Photographer: Jenna & Matt

A few weeks back I headed up to Allentown to shoot Jenna and Matt's wedding at Brookside Country Club.  Ahhh, these pictures make me miss fall - we shot their wedding during one of the last weekends of the fall season - I feel like it's full on winter now!  At least that means the holidays are right around the corner:)  Speaking of holidays right around the corner....is Thanksgiving really ONE WEEK away?  When did that happen?  I feel like it was summer just last week.  Man this wedding season just FLEW by!

Here are a few images from their day:

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

This is one of those wedding dresses I would have probably never picked up to try on, but I fell in love with all the frills.  I'm usually not too frilly of a girl, but I just loved her dress:

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

091010-JM-004

My absolute fave - love their expressions, and the slight movement of the bubbles:)

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Jenna was all about the details - feathers in her bouquet?  How awesome is that!  I might have to steal that for my wedding:)

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Oh, how I love cute flower girls and their cute flowers:Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Brookside Country Club Wedding Picture

Stay tuned next week - I'll be doing a lot of shooting this weekend!

show hide 1 comment

Joan - November 21, 2009 - 12:01 pm

The bride is beautiful! You’re right, I never would have looked at a dress as frilly as this one, but it sure works for her! Great pictures again Tina!

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