Workshop launched...

Today I officially announced the dates and details of my next workshop...The McWorkshop! It's sure to be a ton of fun! Check out the link here.

I had a blast in Atlanta!

This week, I spent the week in Atlanta with Andrew, Rachel, Mark, and Erin at the LaCour Workshop. They gave a stellar presentation packed with information...you gotta check out their next one! All the students were fantastic....every one of them. I was honored to have been asked to give a presentation at the workshop and was glad to do so....I had a great time! Here are a couple of shots from the event, but I'll be posting more here soon....I'll try to get a slideshow posted. This first shot is of the group at the Biltmore Ballroom and the second one is me speaking to the group at Twelve, taken by my new friend Eric.

My new bazooka...

I'm had my eye on this lens for a while now, but every time I've been ready to get it, it's been out of stock everywhere. It's a 200mm F 2.0 VR and it's a beaut! Well, yesterday I happened to check B&H and I see the magic words..."In Stock"! Just in time to have it overnighted and ready to play with at the LaCour workshop next week! At 6.5 pounds on its own, I'm sure to get a workout! It's still listed as in stock here if you want one, but you'd better hurry...they're not always available when you want one. I grabbed this shot with my iPhone.

I'm really jazzed about this coming week...

I'm headed down to Atlanta to hang out at the LaCour workshop! They have generously asked me to be guest speaker and I'm deeply honored to do so! Be sure to check out their workshop site too. I'm also eager to possibliy get another dose of Shoot Q education while I'm there. I'll try to post some pics of the shoots and such while I'm there, but will for sure upon my return.

Birthday Fun!!

This past Saturday I was super pleased to share some leisure time with great friends! I had a small gathering at my studio and used my recent birthday as an excuse to get some people together and enjoy not shooting a wedding. As much as I love my job, sometimes you just need to unwind a bit, and there's something about hanging out on a Saturday night as a wedding photographer that makes it that much more fun. The theme was Black and White. Check out a couple of other blog posts about it here and here.

Tara and Bob.

Apple martinis all around!

Me showing Parker a card trick (that didn't work).

Tara and her hubby, Jonathan.

Cutting the cake from Cakes by Jane courtesy of Regina.

Regina and Dana.

Amber and Dana

Dana still in charge of my camera

Amber and Dana making a Corey sandwich

Dana and her husband, Martin

Jill with our friends from AB Tech, Sarah and Ty.

Jill and I

Nathan and Amber were at the house and here's Nathan trying to get a shot of our cat, Carat.

Shyla!

I was downloading some photos off of my point and shoot and came across these images...I'm glad I did, lest they be lost forever! A few weeks back, I drove down to Charlotte to see my friend Shyla who was in the area shooting a wedding. Our good friend Amber happened to be staying with me that weekend and was able to come too! We had a fun time and ate lunch at the Cheesecake Factory...one of my favs. We were looking up directions later for a drop-off point on the GPS and found Old Macdonald's Farm...I always wondered where it was!

Last night, I had the honor and privilege of attending a fund raising event at the Grove Park Inn honoring K. Ray Bailey, esteemed and soon-retiring president of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. I was pleased to be a guest for once and to not have to shoot, though it would have been a fun event to cover! Dr. Bailey was presented with accolades from presendital canidate Senator John Edwards, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, Congressman Heath Shuler, county commisioners from Buncombe and Madisson counties, representatives from UNCA and UT, and Ashellie mayor, Terry Bellamy, among others. Among the awards presented to him for his 41+ years of service with A-B Tech were two official K. Ray Bailey Days and the key to the city! I enjoyed meeting the mayor and learning that not only is she Asheville's first African-American mayor, but the youngest mayor in North Carolina history! And of course I'm very proud of my beautiful wife, Jill, as she was recognized for being on the Event Committee....and with almost 500 people there raising $100,000, that was no small task! Great job sweetie!

This evening I had the distinct pleasure of being the featured member at the monthly meeting of the local camera club, F-32 at UNCA. We had a great turn out with nearly 60 members and guests in attendance....standing room only! I had a wonderful time and always appreciate the opportunity to speak to a room full of talented and interested photographers. Thanks!

I grabbed this shot with my iPhone....any chance to pull it out and show it off is always fun!! And if you look closely, Bob of Mac Prodigies is taking a photo of me and my iPhone with his iPhone!! That's the first time I've been in a room with more than one! Thanks for sending that image, Bob!

Happy 4th of July!!

I actually took the evening off last night and went to a friend's house for a little 4th of July fun. Jill and I went to our friends Becca's and Mark's house for some dinner, yard games, and of course to fly my rc plane a bit. They live just a block or so off of Main Street in Weaverville, so we just walked downtown for the fireworks!