By Eric Little
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Ahh…family photos. They capture the best and the worst of us: the best including the love a family has for one another & the worst including bad hair (need I remind you of the 80’s hairdos?) and out of fashion clothes (seriously, who thought acid-wash jeans were a good idea?!). Getting your family together in one location, dressed and with good attitudes is a challenging feat…especially [Read more…]
By Eric Little
Everyone loves photos and video. Everyone loves music. Putting the two together make a perfect blend. Problem is, I own all of the photographs and videos that I take. Just like the musician owns his music. If people see my photos online and copy them for their own use without paying me, I make no money and I cannot stay in business. The same goes for music. Being in this business I understand the plight of copyrights, and I truly [Read more…]
By Eric Little
I was lucky to have been a part of the video team filming the Haggai seminar this past week at the Waverly Hotel in Atlanta. I really enjoyed the message that was spoken by this organization. The team of people was so diverse, and to see Christians from all over the world coming together to spread the word. It was enlightening.
Below is their mission, I hope [Read more…]
By Eric Little
This is the first in a series of articles in which I discuss the beautiful locations where I have had the opportunity to photograph various events.
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The Payne Corley House, without a doubt, is one of my top 10. Beautiful home, grand areas for photos, and a fantastic staff to boot. The main house is two stories with a large front porch and beautifully landscaped grounds. Inside there is a staircase, off the entry foyer, leading to the upstairs Bridal room. The Bridal room has plenty of space not only for the Bride and her “court” but for me to move around and get those great Bridal preparation photos. Downstairs the floor plan is laid out very well with an open feeling and the rooms flow together naturally, allowing your guest to move easily from the ballroom, to the bar area, to the buffet area and outside to the beautiful exterior surroundings.
Speaking of the outside, you find yourself with the cottage for the groom. This is a great idea, so the guys can have their own place, and we do not have to hide the bride when we are moving the groom for photos. The bride can even enjoy the view of the activities from the upstairs window, but she will be busy with the girls.
The Gazebo area is very picturesque. It has such a romantic feel. When I am stepping back to take that wide angle shot with all of your guests, Wow! I just love that shot. I love this place.
Can’t go without saying anything about the train tracks. If a client wants to take a walk to the tracks, it is quit fun, and we can get some great shots. It is very popular, and there are several spots along the way too. That is just a little icing on the cake, but the tracks are not for everyone.
I have to speak of the staff there. I have had a chance to work with a few of the family members, such as Krista, Lori Ann, Hope, Robin and Jennifer. Not blowing any smoke here, these ladies have always been great. I know every event can’t be 100%, but here I have experienced that. These ladies want you and your guest to have a great time, and they want you to get great pictures. They never rush me, they never seemed to be freaked out, because they are having fun helping you have fun. I know the rest of the team has to be just as cool. I am only sorry I have never had a chance to meet the chef, because his food is Brilliant! I have never seen it any less. Please keep this guy around! I usually don’t get to eat much, because I am too busy taking great pictures, but when I do get the chance, it is delicious.
Now a little on the House history, from their site.
The Payne Corley House is the oldest standing home in the city of Duluth.
1873: The House was built between 1870 and 1873 by David Little when Duluth was still known as “Howell’s Crossing.” Built as a farmhouse, the home received a date placard in 1873, the same year that the city took on its current name of Duluth, most likely indicating the year that the Little family made it their permanent home.
The House had changed hands many times throughout the years and has a rich history.
1998-2004: When Miss Winnie was ready to leave the house, a group of 5 girlhood friends and Duluth natives purchased the Payne-Corley House and transformed the beloved family home into a unique special events facility. Known as the “Dreamkeepers,” they were dedicated to maintaining the home’s historic charm while refurbishing it to meet the needs of a modern clientele. They successfully built the Payne-Corley House into one of the Southeast’s most celebrated event destinations.
2004-Present: In 2004, the daughter of one of the Dreamkeepers, Duluth native Krista Summerour Ganley, and her husband, Michael Ganley, brought their world-class experience in events management and gourmet cuisine as the Payne-Corley House’s new management team. In 2008, the Ganleys purchased the Payne-Corley House and launched a major facility expansion with upgrades across the property, providing enhanced services for weddings and special events. Leveraging their unique talent for Southern hospitality, the Ganleys also own and run downtown Duluth’s award-winning Park Café restaurant and have built both facilities into well-known community gathering places.
Definitely two thumbs up! An enjoyable spot to tie the knot. Great atmosphere, great staff. That can only mean a great experience. Just don’t forget the great photographs!
Take a look at a few of my photos above, that I took at the House. I will be happy to share more. Then take a look at their site at The Payne Corley House.
Enjoy!
By Eric Little
[singlepic id=256 w=320 h=240 float=left]Another item recently added to my tool set The Varavon Loupe Ex-Solo DSLR Optical Viewfinder .
WOW! This is the Loupe. If you are shooting video with your DSLR, you must have this loupe. You simply cannot shoot without it. And those great Nikon lenses of course.
I looked at many other styles. Used the Zacuto Pro 3X on the Nikon D7000, loved it! But the Zacuto had its flaws,(eye cup always fell off, okay I could glue it on. Was very hard to remove to view the LCD screen for playback, or just switching back to photography. Was also always afraid parts were going to pop off), and cost a lot more than the Varavon. This model has everything the Zacuto has, and then some. The 3x zoom is better than most models. Most are non existent. It is the same as Zacuto. For us folks with bad eyesight, it helps. I even wear glasses and I can still use this tool very easily. The flip up viewer is perfect for reviewing what you just captured. Unlike the Zacuto.The mount is better than perfect, and easily removed if you need to convert back to photography, which is what I do. I shoot photo and video on the fly at events, and could not ask for better.
A little more on the Zacuto. It is, hands down one of the best of its kind, but it is pricier, heavier, not as user friendly as the Varavon EX-Solo. Price is always a factor, but if you do not have the right tool, you are not doing yourself justice. For $100 less, I am glad I saved my money and got the right tool.
As an add on, be sure to throw in a Blue Star eye cushion, for the eye cup. You will be happy you did. It will save your eyes, and keep the lens from fogging during a long shoot.
Without a doubt, two thumbs up. No cons on this loupe, only I could not afford the next model up. Maybe next time.
Hope this review helps. This little loupe helped me.
Enjoy!
By Eric Little
[singlepic id=254 w=420 h=340 float=left]Getting my gear ready for the new season, and ramping up a bit in the audio side. I have added the Zoom Hn4 to our arsenal. This is going to be a great new tool for capturing beautiful audio with our video footage. Audio is one of the key ingredients to quality video production. If you have poor or fluctuating sound quality it can damage any video production. With this particular model you can capture multiple tracks, from multiple sources at the same time. For instance, capture the ambient sound of a church wedding, while also capturing a lapel mic placed on the groom to capture their vows. Brilliant. I have had the opportunity to handle it around the studio, and I can say it is a very intuitive piece of equipment. The controls are easy to navigate, and recognize, even in the darkest of situations.
The XY configuration of the mics is very important for stereo sound, and with the capability to capture the direction of the sound from 90-120 degree, is a helpful tool. The possibilities of using this as a shotgun mic on our DSLR is very exciting.
Battery use in the field is also a concern. But with the ‘Stamina’ setting, the Zoom Hn4 shuts down a few of its functions to save on battery life. A very nice option.
As I have not had the chance to utilize it in the field, I cannot yet give it a full thumbs up. Yet I am very eager to see the results of our next shoot. I will keep you informed.
Check out their site for more information on this product. See it here Zoom Hn4
Enjoy!
By Eric Little
[singlepic id=253 w=420 h=340 float=left]Congratulations on your engagement! This is an exciting time and we hope you enjoy every minute of your wedding planning.
In this next series of posts we are going to look to different wedding event locations. We have had the opportunity to film many events at these locations, and are honored to present them to you. But first, a few helpful tips.
Finding the perfect wedding venue for your special day is not an easy task. In fact, this part of the wedding planning is the most difficult part to finalize because there are tons of beautiful wedding venues, and you can get overwhelmed with all of the possibilities. But you will be happy to know that after you find the ideal setting for your special day, everything else will fall into place. Many venues have preferred vendors lists. This is a list complied by the wedding event location, of vendors that they work well together with, and that they trust their work. From florists to your culinary delight.
We have narrowed down and made a list of the most important things you have to consider when choosing your perfect wedding venue and we hope you find it useful.
1. Wedding Budget – make sure that you and your husband-to-be have set a clear budget before searching for your dream wedding venue. This will save you time and help you focus on the type of venue to look out for since wedding venue fees can vary considerably.
2. Availability – confirm and finalize your wedding date before contacting the wedding venue, or other vendors. This will help them check availability more effectively. We also suggest having 2-3 alternative dates just in case the first choice is already taken. Also remember that most wedding venues and vendors require a minimum of 6 months advance booking.
3. Wedding Style – We highly suggest that you have a clear idea of what you want. For example, decide whether you want to have a mansion style wedding, church wedding, ballroom wedding or a destination wedding, etc. The other alternative is to perhaps look in to it based on the season like winter wedding, spring wedding, summer wedding or autumn wedding. Figuring this out will help you find the perfect wedding venue and see if they can offer this kind of experience for your special day.
4. Number of Guests – intimate wedding of 20 or a big wedding of 300 – this factor will greatly influence the choice of your wedding venue and it is advisable to have a good indication of the number of guests you are expecting to have so that you can find wedding venues that can cater for this important requirement.
5. Civil or Church Ceremony – check with the wedding venue if they are licensed to hold civil ceremony or a religious ceremony. This will help you figure out whether or not you have to include this task of visiting local churches on your wedding venue search. Distance between marriage ceremony venue and the wedding reception venue will be important to take in to account. In-house wedding coordinators are usually very helpful and they can give you a list of churches or list of other vendors within close proximity to their venue. You may be thinking of having the ceremony in your own church, but do consider the distance that the guests, and other vendors will have to travel between locations.
6. Vendors – Some wedding venues can only offer the ceremony venue and reception venue but not the accommodation, catering and other wedding extras. This means that you have to look for your own wedding vendors or you will have to contact the venue’s recommended vendors. All these issues will affect your wedding planning and wedding budget so always know all the important facts when you start liaising with the venue so you get all information as early as possible and plan accordingly.
7. Child Friendly – If you are expecting to have lots of children present on your wedding day, it is also good to find out from the wedding venue whether they can accommodate children. Some venues, like stately homes can be quite strict about this and can also impose age restrictions due to some of their fine arts and antique collections.
8. Do’s and Dont’s– check with the venue if they have will impose certain limitations or do’s and dont’s on your wedding day. Some venues have rules like no loud music after midnight, no confetti, no candles, no high-heels due to floor damage, no red-wine and more. This might not affect you if you are head-over-heels in love with the wedding venue, but it is still good to set everything clear from the beginning to avoid any surprises.
9. Accommodation – not all wedding venues have accommodation for you and your guests. But make sure to ask if they can give you a list of recommended hotels and B&B around the area so that you do not have to do your research about this. Ask if they can also give you a map to show the location of each hotel in relation to the wedding venue. For everyone’s convenience and ease of transport, you certainly would want your family and friends to be within close proximity to the beautiful wedding venue where you will be getting married.
10. Wedding Photography Considerations – I place great emphasis on wedding photography and video. I think that this is an important consideration when you are looking for your perfect wedding venue. An ideal venue will also provide breathtaking spots at the venue for both indoor and outdoor photography. One golden rule is to have ample natural light, with shaded areas, picturesque gardens, or beautiful backdrops such a Victorian mansion. A good wedding photographer can find beauty in every wedding, and every bride, but a nice setting helps. You only get married once, so you want to ensure that you will have great wedding photographs. So we feel that this is an important factor to also add on the list.
Happy wedding planning!!
By Eric Little
[singlepic id=252 w=320 h=240 float=left]Getting Engaged? Have a friend or family member getting engaged this Valentines Day? We are giving away a free engagement photography session to the couple that will share their proposal story with us. How did they propose? No matter how simple or sappy, we want to hear the story.
We will randomly pick from our entries, and post that single couples story. This couple will win a free engagement photography session in an outdoor setting near our Studio. This giveaway will include the sitting, an online gallery for you to share with friends and family, and a disc of the images that you may print from as you wish.
So spread the word. If you hear of a friend or family member getting engaged this Valentines Day, have them email their story to Eric@EricLittlePhotography.com
Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!
By Eric Little
Valentine proposals can be very romantic because the holiday is a celebration of love. This is a special time to tell your sweetheart what is in your heart. The following creative proposal ideas can be used to help make your proposal one to remember.
[singlepic id=250 w=320 h=240 float=left]Valentine’s Day is a popular day for marriage proposals, which means it may not be a surprise to your sweetheart, especially if you two have discussed getting engaged in the near future. So if you want to surprise your loved one with a marriage proposal when she least expects it, a holiday is probably not the best time. Yet, for romantics getting engaged on a day that celebrates love could be just perfect.
Getting engaged on Valentines Day is very symbolic of your love for each other because it is a holiday that honors expressing love.You’ll be able to find many venues decorated in romantic themes for the event. If you like hearts and cupid themes, you can find many cards, decorations and other props to create the mood.
Here are some marriage proposal ideas that may work well on Valentine’s Day:
Valentine proposal poem: Propose with a special poem. There are romantic poems from the great poets to consider that work for proposals. You can also find many free proposal resources online. For a personal touch, consider writing your own poem about why you want to marry your beloved.
Handmade Valentine with proposal: Embrace the tradition of the holiday and make a handmade Valentine card that includes the marriage proposal. Write words from your heart and include special romantic quotes or poems from classic literature. You can easily get supplies for handmade Valentines at the craft or scrapbooking stores. You can even make a lovely Valentine with items from many local grocery stores, such as construction paper, markers, and lace doilies. You can give her the special card and then get down on one knee to ask your question.
Valentine proposal video: Make a video tribute to your love, let her know why you want to marry her and then ask the big question.
Give her a special bouquet and hide the ring among the flowers. Make sure the ring is secure and will be visible when she looks at her flowers. One way to do that is to fasten the ring on a floral decoration in the bouquet or tied onto a stuffed animal that comes with the bouquet.
Create a Valentine theme treasure hunt with the grand prize being the engagement ring. Lead her through a hunt for little romantic gifts with clue cards that talk about your relationship and what she means to you. Let her think she is simply hunting for her main Valentine gift, and then surprise her with the ring and proposal when she finds the treasure.
If you plan to be engaged for a year or more before the wedding, consider a Valentine’s Day wedding. It can be very meaningful to get married on the same holiday that marks your engagement, especially the most romantic day of the year. Couples who have always enjoyed celebrating festive holidays may really enjoy doing this. Just be sure to make your wedding arrangements as soon as possible because this day is also very popular for weddings.
Most importantly, don’t feel too pressured about the marriage proposal or it may get in the way of enjoying the sacredness of the act. You both want the marriage proposal to be a treasured memory and however it happens, it will be.
By Eric Little
Meet Tom and Becky, their wedding day is just around the corner, April 28th. We were able to find a nice January day to get their photography session in. Engagement shoots are really cool, just getting to know these guys was a real pleasure.I knew that we were going to have a blast, and I can’t wait until their wedding day. See you guys again soon!
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