I have to say that I love using Lightroom from Adobe. Once upon a time, it was photoshop all the way. I used to do all my editing and virtual darkroom tinkering inside of photoshop. I then taught photoshop at college,  so I was a big fan.

However I now love another… Lightroom, it’s perfect for photographers and the fourth version just came out today, well maybe yesterday, not sure do to the time zones.

It really is a virtual darkroom and I hardly ever need to seu photoshop any more. It also stores all your photos as well processing them for Print and for uploading to the web. I have to say this is not an advert for it, but I do use it everyday, in fact I’m going to go and play with the new version right now.

You can download a 30 day trial at Adobe, in case you are interested.

Well it’s mid way through January, frosted cars by 6pm and things are starting to pick up by way of bookings for this year. I’ve two confirmed for April and one for early May, they are all within three weeks of each other. Which is a great result.

I’m pleased with the website ranking I’m now on page 3, ooh er,  for the term Cheltenham Wedding Photographer, which is really quite unexpected. The diligent bride or groom may even click down that far. I’m curious when I will get my first enquiry which has been generated through this site. I also popped up on Google Maps, that has not been easy, it took weeks to get registered two postcards from Holland and a further 2 months to show up. Still I’m sure its worth it.

I’ve given myself the year to get this site as I want it, I have not told anyone about it apart from Emma, a couple of friends have found it, but I want it fully developed before I show anyone else and that could be a while. So for now, I’m just really typing to myself and I’m quite happy about it :-)

I had not planned on doing this sort of post on here, but I just came across this and thought it was worth sharing.

This is a letter from a client, Karen, to her photographer Jeanine….

July 2nd, 2011

Jeanine –

Today I am writing for a couple of reasons. I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind. I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.

You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby. I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family. After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you.. Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.

That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.
On Sunday I called and cancelled our session. Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and coloured ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip. This was just 4 days since cancelling our session, already totalling over $200 for un necessary things. My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor. It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly. I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice. It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.

I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat.

Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me. The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them. Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it. If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth. I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.
My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos. I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.

Karen L.

If you would like to comment on the original post, it can be found here.

http://fototails.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/a-letter-on-my-doorstep-portraits-are-more-than-paper/

I thought as a project for the new year, I would photograph some of the best wedding venues in Cheltenham. I’m going to create a section on the web site for it. I think I will start with churches as that is the most common type of venue but I’m not going to limit it to that.

This will help a couple to choose a wedding venue, as they can see what it will look like and hopefully picture themselves getting marries their.

Today however is not the day to start this as its New Years Eve and there is some partying to be done.

As anyone looking at this site can tell it’s just an infant, but next year it should hopefully develop to a teenager, and I’m sure we’re all looking forward to that.

Happy New Year to you all. X

Hello.

Something awesome here.

Cool.