Love + Tears
So I’m going to admit that I cried walking down the aisle. (Ok, well anyone at my wedding will say that’s the understatement of the day!) I cry when I’m sad, extremely happy, and even when I’m angry.
Your wedding is such an overwhelming + surreal day… built up for so long with all the love + emotion you feel for that one person standing at the end of the aisle. All the emotion just comes flowing out…
Hope these tips help, but honestly I don’t think any advice would’ve helped me on my wedding day. (9 years ago, Wow time flies!)
http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2013/01/how-to-keep-from-crying-at-wedding.html
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Little by little…
When you’re getting re-organized, it can be totally overwhelming clicking into your My Photos folder and coming face to face with tons of photos. The key to a successful organization project is to take it LITTLE by LITTLE. Don’t try to do everything all at once. As you progress, it’ll get easier + you’ll feel awesome for doing it!
If you followed the earlier post, then you now have a folder with all of your mobile photos. Here’s the next steps:
3. Rename the mobile photo folder to something like – iPhone 2012 Choose a name that you’ll readily think of when you are looking for your phone photos. It’s very important to have the year included so you don’t end up with a huge folder of various years worth of photos mixed in…that leads back to square one.
This next step will take some time and you can even do it on your laptop during the commercials while watching your favorite show (Nashville +The Bachelor are mine right now).
***It’s easier to start with the most recent and work backwards in time. (By the way, if you still have holiday photos on your digital camera, don’t forget to upload them to your computer too!)
4. Find photos that are all similar, from a holiday for example. Select all of those photos and make a new folder, label it – Christmas 2012 Now put all of the Christmas photos into the folder + presto! A lot less photos to look at, now you know just where to find this year’s holiday pictures.
5. Keep working on this process, start with holidays/birthdays since they are easiest. Then move on to vacations and any outings, like trips to the fair or zoo. Label the folders in a way that you’ll remember what it was by looking at the folder name – AliyaBirthday 2012 or NYC Trip 2012 or Aquarium 2012. If you go frequently, feel free to add the month.
6. Lastly, if you are looking for the date on older photos, for PC – right click on a photo and click Properties and find the date. For Mac – right click on a photo and click Get Info and find the date.
I hope this helps tackle your photo organization, just remember to do one folder at a time. It’s easy to lose focus and feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of images, so organize one folder and then wait a bit if you need to. But always come back to the project and do one or two more. I’d love to hear your progress, + please always feel free to ask questions.
(Here’s a photo to inspire you to have an organized computer).
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Let’s get Organized!
Since it’s a new year, I’ve decided to officially organize my computer…yes, you heard me…organize a computer! They are the worst culprit of hiding clutter because you can’t see it all!!! It’s hidden in folders and then sneaks up on you. I made this unfortunate discovery when I visited Aliya’s photo folder…oh my! Ali’s not even 3 years old yet + I can only imagine how hard this would be after a few years of more photos.
Ok, so now you wonder how do you start this monumental task so you can actually find a photo you are looking for?
1. Download the Dropbox app on your mobile devices or use Bluetooth. Dropbox is a super easy way to send all of those photos/videos to your computer. This first step is essential and should be done each month or at the very least once a year. We have the cloud for storage, but it’s extra security to have all your precious memories on your computer too. As a pro photographer, it’s very important to have archives of everything + this rule follows through to your own family photos as well.
2. Now you have all your photos in a folder on your computer…pick your faves and share the folder with your family.
These first steps will take a day or two depending on how many photos you have stashed on your mobile devices…so we’ll continue soon.
It feels really great to get organized + it’s the perfect new year resolution!
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Featured on Real Maine Weddings!
Danielle Blocker Photography was recently featured on the Real Maine Weddings blog! It was exciting to get an email from the editor asking some great questions about wedding photography. Although I have to admit it’s rather hard to write about yourself. My favorite question was about my inspiration. So many things inspire me it’s hard to narrow it down, but mostly I’m inspired by the beauty in the world around me.
Check out the feature, here. I’d love to hear your thoughts, enjoy!
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She’s growing up so fast! Aliya’s sneak peeks…
Over the weekend we ventured down to Topsail Beach, NC for our own lifestyle session. The landscape was stunning + I’m looking forward to many more trips there to explore. It’s was quite a challenge to be in photography mode, while also being mommy. Ali loved the sand and most of the time she didn’t want to look at me at all! Of course, when we were back in the car on our way home, she got all cute + smiley for the camera! Enjoy the sneak peeks of my sweet, smart, + (not so) baby girl Aliya!
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theAshe Family [Schoodic Peninsula]
Amanda & Nick were recently married & I was thrilled to get together with their whole family again this fall for a lifestyle session! They’re such a fun family to be around and our session flew by. The Schoodic area of Acadia National Park is absolutely gorgeous and never fails to be the perfect location for photographs. I love the variety of scenery all in this one place! Enjoy their sneak peeks…
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Chelsea + Nick [E-Love @ Jordan Pond]
Chelsea + Nick shared their love with me at Jordan Pond House in Maine’s beautiful Acadia National Park. We waited until the fall to shoot their E-Love session along the carriage roads by Jordan Stream. It was beautiful with the fall foliage! I love Chelsea’s creativity and following her posts on Pinterest with wedding ideas. It’s an excellent way for me to see their vision and identify the styles of photography that appeal to the bride. Every wedding is a collaboration and Pinterest makes this so easy. Enjoy their sneak peeks with photos influenced by their love of football!
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Amanda + Nick [Jonesport, Maine Wedding!]
Amanda + Nick’s wedding in Jonesport, Maine was such a blast to photograph! Here are the sneak peeks of my fave photos + the details of their day, enjoy!
I arrived early + captured all of the beautiful details, like the large teal boat to hold their seating cards. The whole day was a whirl wind from there! I met the groom’s family for early photos overlooking the ocean on Beal’s Island. Then we whisked off to the church in Jonesport for the ceremony. Their ceremony was beautiful + I loved the sand pouring ceremony. We photographed their formals at Nick’s wharf, completely decorated with lobster traps + hot pink chairs! After a few moments for A+N’s mini love photo session, we headed to the reception. They lightened things up with a Get to Know the Bride + Groom trivia game hosted by Amanda’s best friend Erik. Their questions were so creative with little known funny facts about the couple + even stumped a few of the contestants, such as “Which one cheated on a test in high school and felt so bad about it they turned themselves in?” (Nick!) This helped set the mood for the rest of the reception @ Chandler River Lodge in Jonesboro. It was filled with laughter at the photo booth + beautifully lit with chandeliers in the elegantly draped white tent, while everyone danced the night away with the large seven piece band. Overall, the weather couldn’t have been any more perfect for A+N to celebrate a day filled with love, laughter, family + friends!!! I’m truly blessed to be able to do what I love + so privileged to witness these once in a lifetime wedding events!
Congrats Amanda + Nick, I wish you a lifetime of happiness!!!
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My Travels…
Ok…I’m going to admit publicly that I don’t have an iPhone, because I refuse to have a cell phone bill that costs more than $100. Hence the lack of updates all weekend on my trip to Maine, especially the most important…Congratulations to newlyweds Amanda + Nick!!!
Eventually I’ll suck it up, but until then I’ve decided to chronicle my trip here all in one place.
Fri @ 4am ~ Got in the car + Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake” was playing, lol! I was so NOT wide awake.
~ After some delays I arrived in NH + hoped to pick up my rental car quickly since I was looking forward a nap… 90 mins later I was finally on the road! (No this is not a typo, literally one + half hours of waiting in line, then waiting for Hertz to find a car.)
~ It was all worth it to see my mom + sister and spend time with them later that evening!
Sat. morn ~ I met The Stinson Family for their lifestyle session at their simply beautiful family home in Prospect Harbor. Sorry, no photos will be online; but trust me when I say their blond haired boy + girl were great in front of the camera. I especially loved the moment when a frog jumped out of the pond and they stood together with their arms around each other watching him, so sweet!!!
Sat. afternoon ~ Finally, the day that Amanda + Nick had been waiting for! I arrived early + captured all of the beautiful details, like the large teal boat to hold their seating cards. The whole day was a whirl wind from there! I met the groom’s family for early photos overlooking the ocean on Beal’s Island. Then we whisked off to the church in Jonesport for the ceremony. Their ceremony was beautiful + I loved the sand pouring ceremony. We photographed their formals at Nick’s wharf, completely decorated with lobster traps + hot pink chairs! After a few moments for A+N’s mini love photo session, we headed to the reception. They lightened things up with a Get to Know the Bride + Groom trivia game hosted by Amanda’s best friend Erik. Their questions were so creative with little known funny facts about the couple + even stumped a few of the contestants, such as “Which one cheated on a test in high school and felt so bad about it they turned themselves in?” (Nick!) This helped set the mood for the rest of the reception @ Chandler River Lodge in Jonesboro. It was filled with laughter at the photo booth + beautifully lit with chandeliers in the elegantly draped white tent, while everyone danced the night away with the large seven piece band. Overall, the weather couldn’t have been any more perfect for A+N to celebrate a day filled with love, laughter, family + friends!!! I’m truly blessed to be able to do what I love + so privileged to witness these once in a lifetime wedding events! Congrats Amanda + Nick, I wish you a lifetime of happiness!!!
Sun ~ The storm that flooded parts of our hotel in VA on Saturday actually didn’t cause me any travel delays! I arrived home on time + was welcomed by Aliya giggling so hard when she heard me coming through the door. Jason had a taste all weekend of what my days are like + I highly recommend it to all husbands to try. It was a wonderful weekend, but I’m so glad to be home with my family! Even though there were some hiccups, I just kept telling myself that I love to travel + I really do! It’s so fun and adventurous, plus I met a ton of great people along the way!!!
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It’s Official! Danielle Blocker Photography celebrates 5 years + a new website!
It’s Official!!! Danielle Blocker Photography has relaunched! The last 5 years has flown by + has been full of changes, both personal + professional! My new website is just the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come + my future goals!!!
Five years ago, I was working full time dispatching at a police department. Late one evening on a midnight shift, I finally made the decision to look into starting my own photography business. I’ve always been good at anything I set my mind to learning and even though I’m a good dispatcher, it wasn’t what I wanted for a career. The past five years has been full of risks and big decisions and full of change. I’ve always been a proponent of change and if I hadn’t taken risks then I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Without the support of my husband, Jason, none of this would be possible. We’ve been together since my mom gave me my first slr camera for a high school graduation present. He’s given me the drive to move on in all of my moments of self doubt. Jason has been witness to every image, including the very worst, and has supported me through all of the hours of hard work learning photography as I’ve grown and developed my own sense of style. If it weren’t for him I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to enroll in a photography degree program at an art college (besides saying yes to his proposal during a scenic plane ride) this has been the best decision I’ve ever made!
I absolutely have to thank my mom for passing on her artistic genes. I may not be able to draw a great stick figure, but I can photograph the heck out of it, lol! My mom has nurtured my dreams and gave me the encouragement I needed to pursue them. I’m blessed with a wonderful family who support me in having a career that I absolutely LOVE!!!
Enjoy the new website, it’s been a long time coming! www.danielleblocker.com
Pretty soon, I’ll be hosting a family lifestyle portrait contest on Facebook, so keep an eye out for it.
Danielle Blocker Photography 