NEW BLOG!

I have a new blog!! I decided to start a new blog to go with my new website and logo. I am really happy with it and I think you will be too. I will be leaving this blog up for the memories.

For new postings, go to dawngioia.blogspot.com

Casual Friday

This week on Casual Friday I am going to share a story with you. This story started last week at a wedding I was shooting. During the reception a very nice guest at the wedding came up to us and started thanking us for all our hard work. Lindsey had already put up the slideshow so she also was complementing the picture. Now, this was a little into the night and everyone had been drinking for a while at this point. She started to tell us the story of her daughters wedding and their photographer. I could not even believe everything she was telling us. I kind of thought she was mistaken about a few things because she had been drinking. She told us about how mean she was and how horrible the pictures were. She even said she got the wrong size album and there were words misspelled in it. We couldn't believe some of the things she was saying. Then all of a sudden she says " I started a blog called, don't hire this women for your wedding photographer". It doesn't say "this women", it has her name. Both of our mouths dropped open. I could not believe these people were so unhappy with her, they started a blog. So, Lindsey Google the photographers name and there it was. They really did. I read there story and was shocked. I work so hard to give my brides everything they expect of me. I also get everything in writing. There is no room for any miscommunication. I explain everything up front and everything is in there contract. Times, albums ,cancellation polices. EVERYTHING! I decided not to give the photographers name because this is only one side of the story. I just wanted all the brides to know that the contract you sign with protects you as much as us. Make sure you get a copy of your contract and that everything is 100% before you sign. This also is a example of why you should not pick your photographer on price alone. You can find great photographers in most price rangers. Plus, if you find someone you like and they are out of your price range, call them anyways. Most photographers will work with you on your budget. Sometimes they have specials or are willing to cut back on there packages to make it cheaper. There is so much trust that comes with this job. Please make sure you pick the right person for you. I wonder if this women has lost bookings beacuse of this. Its only 2 spots down from the top when you google her name.

Benefits

A really great benefit to being a photographer is all your friends are photographers. So, when I need a few updated head shots for my new website;I asked Lindsey. We are both working on new websites so, we did a trade. Went went down to the Marietta square in Georgia for about 30 min before the wedding on Saturday. We got some great shots of each other and had a great time doing it. Thanks Lind's.

Sneak Peak

I just had an awesome wedding in Georgia. The best part was that I got to shoot with a really great friend of mine, Lindsey Turner. I will blog the rest when I get home, but here's a little sneak peak.

Casual Friday

I am adding a weekly posting to my blog. I am calling it Causal Friday. I will basically talk about everyday things. I will discuss my family, photography, t.v. shows, food, anything I can think of. My first Casual Friday post will be about Gas prices.

I went to the gas station yesterday with my husband. We were on our way to look at house, again... When he got out of the car, I said " Here, I have cash. How much do you think it will be"? He said " I don't know, give me $40." With those words, the price of gas really hit me. It had been hitting my bank account for a while, but it reminded me of how high it has become. I think it was because I had not paid with cash it years. I just put my card in and fill up. It made me think of the first time I got gas. I always paid with cash back then. Do you guys remember that. You had to walk into the gas station to pay, good times! I know it has been 11 years, but I remember it because I had no idea how much gas cost. When I pulled into the gas station,I was lost. I never gotten gas before and I really had no idea how much it would be. The gas station sign read .80 a gallon. That's right, .80 a gallon. I could fill up my gas tank for less than $15.

Yesterday when we started to pull away, I looked back at how much $40 got us. Not even a full tank. In 11 years, I went from being able to fill up my tank form $13-$15to not having a full tank with $40.

The last time I remember being so mad about gas prices was when it went up to $1.99 a gallon. When I passed that gas station and read $1.99, I was angry. Really angry. I would give anything to have gas be $1.99 a gallon. It would be life changing to us all. Maybe we should all go to bed tonight and pray for that.

Good Message!

I stole this poem form [b]eckers blog. I was so moved by it, I wanted to share it with my blog readers. I think we could all live by this message.


People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, some could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

-Kent Keith

September 11th

Today is the 7th anniversary of that horrible day in this country. It made me think this morning about what I would tell my daughter when she asked about it. I remember being a kid and asking my parents about where they were when JFK was shot and what it was like to watch Martin Luther King on t.v. I wonder what she would ask me and if I will be able to give her the answers she want.

I remember where I was that day like it was yesterday. My husband ( who was just my boyfriend back then ) was living in Atlanta. I had flown out there on Friday September 7th for a visit. We caught a flight later that night to Maine to see his parents. This was the first time I would be meeting them. We flew into Portland and rented a car. We drove for hours to Guilford ( his home town). We stayed for the weekend and made a trip to the Bar Haber. I remember thinking how wonderful life is. I was in one of the most wonderful coastal towns with a wonder guy. When the weekend was over, we drove back to Portland and caught our flight back to Atlanta It was Sunday the 9th. I would not know until later how being in that airport at that time would be apart of this story. I had planned on flying back Denver on the 11th because I had a wedding to attend on Thursday. I changed my plans and decided to fly back on the 12th. September 11th Bill got up and went to work while I fell back to sleep. For some reason, the phone was ringing off the hook. As soon as I would fall back to sleep, it would wake me up again. Annoyed, I got up to answer it. It was my mother and she was hysterical. All she keep saying was "Thank God your still there, thank God your still there"( I forgot to tell her I changed my plans and they were not sure what plane it was). She told me to turn on the t.v. A plane crashed into the world trade center. Right after turning it on, the second plane crashed into the second tower. I sat there all day and watched it unfold. When Bill got home, we just sat there together and could not believe this was happening to our country.

I was not able to get back home for a week because DIA was one of the last airports to open back up. I later learned that the a few of the terrorist flew from Portland, ME to Boston on Sunday September 9th. There flight left right before ours. If you have every been to the Portland, ME airport, you can see why this is so disturbing. There airport only has 5 gates that are all right next to each other. Its weird to think back and know you were standing so close to evil.

I do have some picture that were taken at the airport that morning, but they are packed away due to our move. Maybe I will share them with you when I get them unpacked. It's funny to look back at those moments. The time seams so innocent.

Second Shooter

I had a opportunity to second shoot for Erin Cady last weekend. It's always a little weird for me to second shoot because I feel out of place. I am so used to being in charge and having a relationship with the bride and groom. OK, I can't think of anything else negative. The rest rocks! Making no decisions, leaving early and no photo editing. Maybe I am looking at a career change, haha.

I just had a great time. I have never shot with Erin before and I love learning new things. She is a great photographer and a really nice girl. She is in the process of moving her studio from Glennwood Spring to Evergreen. So, maybe we will work together again.

All I have to say about this photo is Erin is a rock star. I am not sure how high up we were, but I know it was the Penthouse. She really will do anything for a shot.




I will blog this wedding soon!

Dan & Jackie