Archive for January, 2010

The Jantz Family

January 29, 2010

The Jantz Family,originally from California , wanted some “Southern” images of their family before they moved out of South Carolina, so we headed to one of the most “Southern” looking places I could think of, with lots of moss in the trees!  It was pretty chilly that day- but everyone hung in there to the end!  Thank you so much and good luck to you in your move!

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Attention Brides!

January 26, 2010

Gift Registry now available!!

Did I get your attention? : )

I am now offering a Gift Registry for your Engagement, Bridal and Wedding images!!!   That’s right!  So in addition to registering for your silver, china and linens - why not let your friends and family know they can also contribute to your Photography Registry as well!  

How it works:   When your engagement, Bridal and Wedding images are posted online, there will now be an option for your friends and family to purchase “Gift Registry Cash”.   The pre-filled amount of the Cash is  $25- but they can increase the quantity purchased to reach their desired amount.   Then this  “Gift Registry Cash” is held as a credit in your account that you can use to purchase prints, book, albums, etc.. or maybe you can get that huge canvas portrait you’ve always wanted!  

Please contact me if you have any questions!

OK- so I don’t particularly like things like Twitter and Facebook……but I’m gonna try them…..at least for a little while.   But I am wondering if anyone I know  is even on Twitter?????  Granted, I have only played around on it for like 2 minutes, but people are not as easy to find on there as facebook……or it is completely possible that I just don’t know what I am doing? Anyway- if anyone IS on Twitter, let me know!!!

Well, many of you Clemson fans may recognize some of the places in this shoot- that’s right, it’s Tiger Town!!!   I met Kyndall and Doug last Saturday up in Clemson for their E-sesh.  We ended up being able to shoot for about 45 minutes before it started raining!! Then I had to shoot the last hour while trying to hold an umbrella in one hand and the camera in the other……quite an accomplishment, because it’s NOT easy!!   I love, love, love these shots! Kyndall and Doug are so good together- and they were very natural in front of my camera- which is what I REALLY love!  Their expressions were genuine.   So, I got to see a lot of Clemson…which I hadn’t been to since I was in highschool ( wow that’s a long time!) and it is a very beautiful campus…..although I kept wishing I had worn like the biggest USC shirt ever- just to see what people would say- haha!!! I probably would have been beat up : )

  Kyndall and Doug showed me where they had their first date- at TD’s ( that is the shot where they were under the umbrella sitting at the table).  And I got to see a lot of stairways and Alley’s- because I had to find places to photograph that were out of the rain! haha!!   Oh- and did I mention that Kyndall is my cousin?  So that made the shoot even more fun! Isn’t she such a beautiful girl?? Doug- you are one lucky guy!  But I am sure you know that : )  Thanks guys for sticking it out in the rain and bad weather!!!

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Ashley and Trent’s wedding imagse are now online!  If you  have the password- log in and take a look!!!

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Ashley and Trent were married Saturday at First Baptist Church in Sumter.  It was truly….. FREEZING that day!  Sorry again to all the girls- I know you were so cold out there in those dresses - but you looked  so pretty! Even if you were turning a slight shade of blue! haha!!!   The guys had is somewhat better- at least they had coats on.   The thing I loved most about this wedding - Ashley and Trent were constantly hugging and kissing. So Sweet!  And they had a great reception - full of good food, lots of fun ( thanks to Howie D!) and love from family and friends!

Congrats you two!

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Karnes Pregnancy

January 19, 2010

Awwww…… another excited , happy couple!!  Chrystal and her husband came to the studio last Thursday for a pregnancy session before their little Riley arrives!!  Chrystal is just the cutest pregnant woman isn’t she??? Nothing but tummy!!!  so cute!

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Winter Mini-session dates

January 16, 2010

ok- time for the second annual studio mini sessions !

Woohoo!!!   Mini sessions will be offered February 1st, 2nd and 3rd from 6 to 8 pm all nights.  That means there are only four available appointments on each of those dates - so schedule your sessions quickly!!! 

Sessions  will work the same as they did last year : 30 minute studio sessions for up to two people ($10 per additional person) , proofs posted online for one week for orders, and one free 8×10 print included.  The cost of the session is only $35.   Use these sessions for anything- you, your family, children, engagements, your pet,etc.  

Need some ideas?  lets see…..  Is it your baby’s birthday soon?  how about a birthday cake bash! Or a “funny faces” session of your child - the images can be complied on a panel print.  Classic white on white:  maybe jeans and a white shirt? That can work for anyone!   Does your child like to dress up? Bring their favorite outfits!  Do you and your spouse need an updated picture?

Please contact me with any questions and to schedule your mini session!!  

Phone: 803-983-5816

Email: megan@meganmanusphotography.com

Well, one of my brides for 2010 is very talented I see…..Check out this website!   http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrimandPosies.   Anna Richardson (you may remember her amazing red hair and gorgeous eyes from her bridal session) has gone into business for herself, making unique hair pieces for your wedding day!   They are absolutely gorgeous!!  So- if you are wanting something a little different for your big day - check her out! I promise you will LOVE them!!!   I do!    Way to go Anna!!!!!

Charlotte- White Hair Flower and White Birdcage Set      Caroline Series- Small Set of Ivory Silk and Organza Hair Clips   Katherine-Ivory Feather Flower       Sophie- Large Crystal and Rhinestone Headband        Bella- Light Ivory Hair Flower  She wore one on her bridal shoot!

Wow.   That’s about all I can say for Leah.  Isn’t she gorgeous!!!!  I told her  in the images of her laying on the ground, she reminds me of an angel!  haha! Leah and her husband traveled from Lexington for their shoot on Wednesday.   Their little Raleigh will be here soon, and they didn’t want to miss out on the chance to document this important event in their lives.   I had the most fun in this shoot…..which is probably why I shot for an hour and a half without realizing it- haha!!  Here are some of my favorites images form their session:

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Imaging USA 2010

January 13, 2010

Wow- let me see how I can describe this experience:  exciting, educational, enlightening, inspiring, crazy-crowded, overwhelming and AWESOME!  This convention is put on annually by Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in different cities -  this year it was Nashville and next year it’s in San Antonio Texas.  There are classes all day from 7am (yikes!) to 7:30 pm, with a HUGE trade show during the afternoon hours.  The classes are each an hour and a half long, are jam-packed (like over 1600 people in a single class!) and are taught by some of today’s leading photographers in the industry (aka: Photog Celebrities! haha!).  It’s pretty amazing to see photographers that you see in your magazines and online- a few feet away from you, in person!   To me… they are like my “famous people”!  It reminds you that they are actual REAL people and not some super-human machine that consistently produces absolutely amazing pictures….. although as you look at their work and hear them speak, you can’t help but think to yourself…….I suck, I suck, I suck, I suck……

The Gaylord Opryland Hotel was amazing! It’s like it’s own little city!  There are restaurants, stores, bars, everything- under one roof! All the pictures below are from INSIDE the hotel.  Oh- and you seriously DO need a map to get around in this thing! My first day there, I think I looked for my room for about 30 minutes before I finally found it! haha!

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I don’t know why i thought this top looked good with this cardigan- yuk!! Oh well, it was early when I got dressed….let’s blame it on that!

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The trade show is ridiculous! Huge convention center, hundreds of vendors: album companies, print labs, equipment dealers, software companies everywhere!  People giving speeches and demonstrations, and it’s so loud and overwhelming- but so much fun!!!  You can see the latest and greatest products being used…..and yes you can buy them too…….which I did! Maybe a little too much, but oh well, I am super excited about trying out my new goodies!   Oh- and I got to meet some of the greatest names in industry…and take pictures of them too….yes I am a nerd. I know it. 

This is what the trade show looks like, but this picture still doesn’t do justice to just how BIG it really it. Put it this way- it took me 3 days to go through it and I still didn’t get to see everything!

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Now for my “celebrities” - and I realize most of the people reading this are not going to know who the heck these people are, so I made their names links to their sites so you can check them out! 

This is Keven Kubota , I am a huge fan of his actionsfor photoshop! 

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I got to meet Yervant, seriously A-MAZE-ING photographer from australia ( yeah he better smile, I had just spent a serious chunk of change on some of his products- haha!)

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This is Doug Gordon - wow, wow, wow! Awesome wedding photographer!  Not the greatest picture though…but check out his work- amazing!

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Tamara Lackey

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And Joe Buissink- he photographed J-Lo’s wedding (not sure which one…) and Jessica Simpson, Christina Applegate and more…..

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The entire experience was phenomenal!  It’s just a great way to start out the year…my first FULL year of being a FULL-TIME photographer..energized, excited, optimistic, hopeful, inspired….and that’s a great way to feel inside about your career and your life in general.  I remember sitting on this one Wedding class, looking at the speaker’s images, hearing his words and feeling just so excited and energized inside, like my heart was racing - like I couldn’t wait to photograph my next wedding.  I thought to myself in that moment ” now this is how you know that you are doing what you were meant to do.”   And I believe that.  I took away a lot of useful information from this weekend, along with great ideas and techniques that I can’t wait to implement into my business and life.   Woohoo- hope you enjoyed this LONG post!   : )

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