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Everyone who knows me already knows what a paranoid freak I am when it comes to finances. I always keep a close eye on the checkbook and I thought I did on my debit card as well. I’m here to tell you that you can’t be too careful! Just this last Sunday Ralph and I went to Dillards to purchase new luggage because we have a ton of upcoming travel (including a trip overseas) and we both thought it was time we got new duds to travel with. When I got to the counter at Dillards to pay I was told that my card was not going through and that I needed to call my bank.
I FREAKED and it’s a good thing Ralph was driving because I just knew something bad had happened because I certainly had more than enough in the bank to pay for the luggage. To make a long story short someone had stolen my identity and was in the process of wire transferring money out of my account! Without going into detail, let’s just say they got me for a few GRAND! I’m just now getting it straightened out at my bank and their fraud investigation team in on the case!
This comes during a rash of bad luck we’ve been having as my computer systems have had multiple hacking attempts (thank goodness we have full back ups for everything and my husband is a computer genius) and we’ve only changed the locks at the studio at least three times in the past few months because someone keeps trying to get in! I guess you can’t trust anyone these days… My family just thought I was a paranoid freak before the debit card thing happened, now with the bank telling me that whoever got the card had to have had my pin number and possibly the 3 digits on the back of the card as well they haven’t seen paranoid yet!
BTW, complete security system is being installed at studio today! I’VE HAD ENOUGH ALREADY!
-Cindi K
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</aAfter visiting a few websites this evening, chock FULL of wedding gowns with little or NO DETAILS, badly exposed faces along with a complete inability to use a studio strobe of any kind, I can assure you that simply being the owner of a DSLR does not make anyone a professional photographer. Have your doubts? Visit a few websites on your own; it won’t take long before you find a few really BAD images that have been doctored with Photoshop in an attempt to hide the fact that the exposure was just plain bad. You’re also sure to find an over use of blurry special effects that help hide the total lack of focus ability by the “kit” lens that probably came with the camera. Folks I’m here to BOLDLY tell you that Photoshop was not designed to correct bad photography, but simply enhance good photography. I can also tell you that SOME PEOPLE should NEVER use this program because they don’t know when to stop with the special effects and end up turning the ART of photography into a CHEESY less than desirable HOBBY!
I’m not trying to be caddy here, just trying to educate clients because not every DSLR is professional and not everyone who purchases a professional DSLR learns how to use it properly. When you hire a photographer make sure that he or she is using the right professional equipment for the job. You’ll also want to review their portfolio very carefully to make sure that they are not using programs like Photoshop to compensate for their lack of true professional photographic skills.
p.s. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with the occassional use of contrast, I LOVE contrast and realize that on just the right image it’s often a trade off when it comes to highlight details. But, when one claims to be a professional they should be able to display MANY images that are full of detail… Also, this is not a matter of ARTISTIC STYLE, this is a matter of technical know how and NEVER letting a client down because you didn’t know how to handle a difficult lighting scenario. This is about being able to prove your skills in a variety of situations and always being able to perform on a consistant basis… An artistic eye will only get you so far in this business. I strongly encourage ANYONE out there who aspires to become a professional photographer to GET THE SKILLS before you start charging clients a fee for your services!
My two cents (and a few more)…
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I have many friends in the photography world, but few true kindred spriits. Mike Fulton is one of them. We are both a bit rebellious, love to do things our own way and step outside of the box now and then! Mike and his crew are probably the hottest ticket in wedding photography today and I’m honored that Mike shared his new advertisement with me just this morning and gave us permission to post it here. I wish TriCoast the best of luck with their new campaign as I’m sure it will help them find the FUN couples they want to work with because that’s what TriCoast is all about!
Keep your eyes peeled for EnVogue’s ‘on the edge’ compaign that we’re getting ready to launch later this year! We’re preparing print ads and AWESOME t-shirts that will read ‘SIZE MATTERS at STUDIO ENVOGUE’. Now we know you’re curious, but you’ll just have to wait! STUDIO ENVOGUE is happy to be the FIRST to bring the type of photography advertising to our area!
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Ralph and I spent the day relaxing after yesterday’s ALL DAY extravaganza of a wedding at Calvary Bapt here in Dothan. We both got so many wonderful shots, I don’t know how I’ll ever get through the edit stage on this one! Every last detail was amazing and both families were such a joy to work with. Everyone was so kind and the entire wedding party was dressed and ready ON TIME! I’ll try to have to sample images here on the blog in the next couple days. WOW, what a wedding season we’re having!!! -CK
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The next few weeks will prove to be full of EXCITEMENT here at Studio EnVogue. We’re charging batteries, cleaning lens and packing up for several big events including this weekend’s wedding right here in Dothan at Calvary Bapt Church where Miss Ashley Kite and Rob Rumanek will wed! Next weekend we’re headed to Cullman Alabama for another amazing wedding at St. Bernard’s Abbey where Miss Angela Kisby-Green and Chris Ascherman expect several hundred guests including 21 family members who are traveling all the way from South Africa to attend. You can see their beautiful engagement portraits right here on my blog!
The following week, we’re headed back to Fort Rucker Alabama for another ceremony full of military families that we always LOVE to work with! I’ve never had a military wedding yet that we didn’t thoroughly enjoy! I don’t have another weekend off until the end of JULY. Yikes, I better get busy and make sure we’re ready!
Until next time, here’s sneak peak from last weekend’s wedding! Thanks Sharon and Greg for being soooo much fun to work with!
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Had an extra moment and just wanted to share a few favorites from last weekend. We’re shooting in Enterprise this weekend and I’m looking forward to getting some awesome shots in front of the fountain at the Rawls! I always get awesome shots there. ENJOY!
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Just finished photographing another beautiful wedding at the Country Club in Eufaula Alabama. Caitlin and Mitch were such a fun couple to work work! Thanks guys for being soooo AWESOME. We had such a great time at your wedding!
OK, you guys get the site entrance! I was hoping to capture something AMAZING with lots of green to go with the new web color sceme and this image really caught my eye! -Cindi K
