Plagiarism is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Photographers never know how a shoot will turn out until it is over. There are too many variables. When Donald Keith Photography photographed Jami and Jeff, , 7 years ago no one had any idea Jami would seek me out and ask me to photograph a renewal ceremony, 2 days shy of their 7 th anniversary.

They had a brush with poor health, were fortunate to have it in the past, and decided to renew their vows. The bride scanned the images from the original wedding and provided them to all the guests as a souvenir on a DVD. The photographer, minister, and maid of honor were the same. The colors were the similar, as were many of the guests. When I viewed the CD, I saw them and the wedding 7 years ago. The taste of her dad's back yard bar-b-que returned to my mouth. This time the ceremony was in West Virginia's beautiful Cacapon State Park. Fantastic location for a wedding.

Renewals for the same couple, generational events (Parents-children) for a family, and multiple family events (2 or more wedding of siblings) only come with years in the business and the gray hair that goes with it.

The B and B

I spent 16 hours on the net looking for a hotel in Venice before striking pay dirt. We are in a 6 room B and B, called the Residenza Rivera, located in Dorsoduro Est. It sounds charming and the reviews are very complimentary. The location, the location, the location, is great. Take a look at some of the photos from the internet. My twin brother, Louis (MD, PhD) will stay there with me for 4 nights and then we move to a venue on the island of San Clemente for two days where we will attend the First World Congress on Twin Pregnancy. We have not seen each other for several months and are really looking forward to the trip. Our plan is an activity followed by a gelato, from morning until night. Louis says the pistachio is to die for, my preference is the berry flavors.

A Real Show Stopper

We (two company photographers and myself) set up our booth near the runway with our two Event Realities (Wedding Professional Group) associates. We laid out albums, put poster-sized framed enlargements on easels, and had a video playing our latest and greatest images. It was the zip screen (on the right), however, that was the "show stopper." Patrons stopped to watch the images scroll and other exhibitors came by to ask where we got it.

Still, the flow of brides was slower than years past. Was it the Super Bowl that evening that had turned brides off (unlikely)? Was the recession making an impact (most likely)? The reduced pace meant we could really talk to the brides and show them our work. We booked THREE weddings that day alone! Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth!

If you're interested in attending...

10 FREE TICKETS to the Washington Bridal Showcase at the Dulles Expo Center. If you are interested in attending e-mail me at info@keithphotography.com for a free ticket, a $10 value

Washington Bridal Showcase - the prep

On Sunday, Feb 1 I'm participating in the Washington Bridal Showcase. A flurry of wedding professionals will take the cavernous Dulles Expocenter and turn it into a mall for brides. Now you gotta have an imagination to transform a cavern a mall that will not trun off the customer but we do it. 

For the first time I will be taking a double booth at the event with a florist and a wedding planner ifrom n a small marketing group I belong to, Event Realities. #373, two aisles from the fashion show area and on the end of a row. Preparation is well under way with brochures, flyers, banners and a video. I will create the flyers and brochures myself, just basic updates to previous versions. The banner and video will be outsourced, the banner to an online company (less cost) and the video to Alan Heath, a veteran, award winning photojopurnalist from the UK and a long time associate.