http://www.dvbphoto.com/ DVB Photographers Photo Blog en-us http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=705 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=705 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:27:00 GMT

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]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=701 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=701 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:14:00 GMT
Because no matter the if the invitations matched the theme, the flowers wilted by 8pm, the bridesmaids/groomsmen/crazy cousin Terri drank too much, the minister said the wrong name...there is purity.

Raw. Real. Truth.

Moments where we take a breath and remember why we promise to cherish one another and create a new family.

(forgive me Jessica - because this to me, is the most beautiful image of you and your son I created that day)

]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=700 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=700 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:17:00 GMT

]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=699 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=699 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:31:00 GMT
The real magic happens in the "inbetween"...the moments when someone grabs your hand and says " I want to catch up with you." Eventually, you find yourself in a quiet corner of the resort. Heads bents together, you'll be deep in conversation with another soul who chooses to delight in someone else's celebration every Saturday night (or Friday, Sunday...hey, even Wednesday's).

Rebecca and Kathryn of Engaging Concepts have done it, once again!

The entire Engage conference is dressed in luxury from the linens to these amazing papers, programs, and name cards. They were all hand painted by the artist, Kristy Rice. She sketches the whole conference, too.

And the speakers, as always, were fabulous! Here are a few snaps....

Incredibly witty, straight-shooting, Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank.

Carley Roney of The Knot

Andy and Brian Marcus of Fred Marcus Photography

1/2 of the conference founders, Rebecca Grinnals.

One of my dearest pals, Todd Fiscus.

Brian Rafanelli

Business Consultant SeanLow

The media panel:

Hilarious and insightful, David Beahm

The Cayman event is styled distinctively and beautifully by Miss Jo Ann. Isn't she pretty.

More on the way...but I've gotta unpack and get some sleep!


]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=698 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=698 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:23:00 GMT
We are back in the Cayman Islands for Engage!2011 and this time, Rebecca and Kathryn, the conference founders, asked me to read a blog post from September 5, 2011. It is a very personal piece of writing that I held tight to my chest for weeks until I worked up the courage to hit "send".

I received an overwhelmingly positive response from you, but today, I read stand on a beautifully styled stage and read it to 250+ of the wedding industry's top professionals.

And, I wonder, just what will they think?

I'll tuck the nervous heartbeat back in my throat and read it with pride because in the end...it for these guys...

Wish me luck!
DVB

]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=697 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=697 Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:45:00 GMT
Through my self-induced sabbatical, I have fallen in love with my work as a wedding photographer once again. It is beautiful and glorious and holy...to me, yes, it is holy. I think I treat my marriage differently because of the vows I witness every week -- but that is another blog post.

This Saturday, I discovered a new blessing in my chosen work. It was a fabulous wedding blessed by both a Rabbi and a Bishop in the backyard ceremony at the bride's home. That alone is a rarity and one for the books. You know, those Catholic priests don't move too far outside the church for weddings;) It's gotta be special. Mary Nelson and Matt were just that...special.

Immediately after the recessional, the Bishop, Rabbi and couple gathered in the living room to sign the appropriate legal documents, the ketubbah and the license.
The Bishop leaned over and asked what the Rabbi was signing. The Rabbi explained the ketubbah.

I have to admit, I paused. I thought, surely the Bishop knows what a ketubbah is in the Jewish tradition? Perhaps not...but I do. And it dawned on me the next day while sharing the previous evening stories with my husband...how lucky I am to witness love. I see it in every culture, tradition and but I learn so very much, too.

I understand so many cultures and religions because of this vocation from Catholic and Jewish to Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Greek and yes, even Gypsy culture. I find it all fascinating and beautiful. I am one lucky girl.

It is just one more reason, I am happy, once again to hear "Brick House" on a Saturday night:)

]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=696 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=696 Sun, 06 Nov 2011 02:38:00 GMT

]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=695 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=695 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:48:00 GMT
"Fabulous", I say using the big red Sharpie to check one more house thing off my list. Oh, and I reached all the way around my left shoulder to pat my own back.

Halloween, that started on Monday, too. 8 couples and their 13 kids at my house for a fun night of food, drink and trick or treating. Three dozen honey drumsticks, two loaves of pepperoni bread, a crock pot full of french dip sandys, a double batch of spinach dip-- all homemade. Case of wine, two cases of beer and 4 boxes of Capri Suns purchased. Candy, candy and more candy dancing in the bowl by the door. Decorations displayed. Pumpkins carved. I was ready!

And then the painters came.

"What were you thinking?" my charming husband delicately asks. But I can see his head shaking through the phone which makes me crazy.

"I forgot...I forgot Monday was Halloween when I said yes." I say trying to keep my voice even and friendly.

Ding Dong. 8:30 sharp. A crew of five descend upon my house in splattered white clothes. PIctures off the walls, paint cloths laid, tape whisking off the roll, plastic wrapped around fixtures. Furniture everywhere, pushed together, crowding the hallways.

I am wondering how long this is going to take...two or three days and thanking God I decided not to get the guest bathroom painted. At least I would have one clean, usable bathroom for the Halloween party.

I go about my day. A quick run, an early meeting, lunch with Minette. I stay gone because I can't bear to be in the middle of chaos.
At 2:30, I come home to complete final prep for my 5pm party. Swiftly walking down the hallway to change my running clothes and I catch it out of the corner of my eye...

The ONE bathroom I did NOT want painted is a pretty morning fog blue-gray. The walls had a new paint wet sheen and my heart fell into my stomach. I had two thoughts. 1. I had no bathroom on the first floor that was guest usable and 2. My husband was going to bust it over this.

And then I realized that all the bedrooms were painted, too. Yes, yes, I wanted them painted but for some reason, I thought they would paint one bedroom per day and we would play musical bedrooms. Now I am thinking we are all going to have to camp out in our family room because clearly they won't be done today.

I debated...text Lou at work or wait until he gets home to tell him.

I texted.

And you know, he surprised me. He asked if I liked the color (sure I say...I chose it for our bedroom and bathroom) and then he said he'd do a "once over" to be sure our upstairs bath was clean. And yes, we can sleep on the pull out couch in the family room and the kids will be in their sleeping bags. He is a charmer...that Lou.


Years ago, I remembered reading one of Erma Bombeck's last columns in my hometown paper, The Plain Dealer. Erma was a humorist and famous in my Ohio world being that she was from Dayton. Once asked if she had any regrets in life, she replied "I would have had more friends over and not cared if there were stains on the couch."

Ever since reading that, I decided that entertaining didn't need to be perfect, just heartfelt. Screw that the guests had to walk upstairs or that Lou and I would be sleeping in the middle of mania and paint fumes.

That is tough to make peace with considering the event designers I work with measure the plates on the tables to be sure they aligned perfectly. Hand to God. I see that perfection every Saturday so throwing out paper napkins for my own gathering makes me a little nauseous.

All that was left was the stress that a sugared-up kid would go blazing into a bathroom with his costume marking the wet walls.

In the end, we slept in our newly painted bedrooms. I had one happy clown and a killer Jason with two bags weighed down with candy. Eight happy adults warmed with red wine, hot french dip and happy as anything that they didn't have to clean up murmuring "can we do it again next year?"

Yes, yes, we can.

Have a blessed All Saints Day;)

]]> http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=688 http://www.dvbphoto.com/index.cfm?postID=688 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:13:00 GMT Kristin asked me to if I wouldn't mind (see how nice she is) photographing her and Jeremy at the Bethesda Chapel where they married 10 years earlier. Of course not! It was an honor and privilege...and we even got Jeremy to smile for the camera (He hates pictures -- what guy doesn't?)

Happy Tenth Anniversary to Kristin and Jeremy and almost 8th birthday to Neely!

DVB

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