Paul Price/PSQuared Photographic Blog Spot

New Blog

2009-10-08T09:47:00.003-04:00

Good Morning Readers,

I just wanted you to know that my blog has moved and will no longer be here. To see the new blog. click here and you will be forwarded. The new address is http://www.psquaredphotographicblog.com. See you there..

Amy & Wayne's Wedding

2009-07-23T11:29:00.003-04:00

Hey There Friends,

On July 10, I started my wedding season off with a bang and an injury. That's right...I said injury. Two days before, I rolled my ankle and was on crutches. Luckily, I have great friends and Hadar Goren came out and shot with me. This was such a fun day with such a great couple. The wedding was in Oakton and the reception was in Clifton at the fabulous Trummer's on Main. This is a brand new restaurant and it is incredible. The food and the staff are fantastic!! You have to check it out. Here are some of my favorite images from the day. Thanks again to Hadar. I could not have done it without you!!

My wedding season has finally begun!!

2009-06-29T01:33:00.005-04:00

I know that its been a while since my last post, but I'm so excited that my wedding season has begun. This past weekend, I kicked everything off with an E-Session with Kelly & Chris. These guys are so great to photograph and their wedding is September is going to be incredible. I'm also so pumped to shoot this wedding with my buddy Noah Hayes. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the session. Enjoy!!

20 Random Things about me that few know...

2009-05-18T13:10:00.004-04:00

Ok, I know that this subject has been done before and sometimes I find out something interesting and funny about bloggers that I follow, but I have avoided "going there".....until now. Please sit back and enjoy...For I too, have at least 20 random things about me that few know about. Don't hate...Just Love...

I'm have a problem with iPhone Apps...I download too many
I'm a sushi FANATIC!!
I used to be a professional musician and I rocked the mullet!!
I've been playing drums for over 30 years
I've been singing for over 35 years
I DVR all bass fishing shows on Saturday and Sunday!!
I love bubble gum ice cream
I'm hooked on fishing
I prefer Van Halen to Van Hagar
I paid for every song on my iPod
If Apple computers didn't exist, I'd use an abacus!!
I've got two tickets to the gun show for sale to anyone that wants em;-)
I'm a band geek (I was in the drumline and I teach drumlines)
I hate celebrity...I would never ask anyone for an autograph...Its so rude!!
I get carded for beer and I'm 43 years old
I was a champion shepard....in another life;-)
I can do the humpty dance..
I have Bassitis
I wrote the 5 second rule
I get writer's block.......

Whats been happening?!!

2009-05-12T08:33:00.003-04:00

Hey There Friends!!..Been a while hasn't it? Things have been crazy and I'm finding that there needs to be more hours in the day and more days in the week. So where to begin... Well, I'm pretty over the rain at this point. I've had to reschedule multiple engagement sessions because of this wonderful wetness, but the weather man is telling me that there might be a break on the horizon. Let's keep our fingers crossed. My couples ROCK and I really want to get out with them to capture some awesome moments. I also just received another wonderful album from my pals at KISS Wedding Books. These guys never cease to amaze me with their service and the quality of their product. My clients are gonna love this book! Stay tuned for a post about this album with some pictures soon. Also, if you Twitter, follow me by clicking here. I try to post little tid bits throughout the day. Who knows, you might catch something that makes you giggle!

In my personal life, things have been crazy and lots of fun. For those of you that don't know, I've been a musician(drummer) for a longer time that I care to admit (I don't want to give away how old I am!!;-) and I've started playing to large crowds again at McLean Bible Church. The folks that I play with are awesome and I get to wear my Chuck's and graphics tee's to church every Sunday. Really Cool!! My kids are begging me to let them sit in "grown up church" so they can see Daddy get his groove on!! Anyhow, that's all for now. Stay tuned for pics of the new KISS Wedding Book that just came in. That should be up soon. Until next time...

SmugMug & Bay Photo RULE!!

2009-04-02T07:45:00.002-04:00

As some of you may have heard, I switched all of my online gallery and printing services over to SmugMug a couple of months ago. I had been happy using NextProof & White House Custom Color for the last year, but there were limitations to that combo and I switched based on the recommendation of another photographer in my area. Well, I can't tell you how glad I am that I made the switch. I use SmugMug's Pro service with Bay Photo as my printer and I recently placed a sample order so I could check their print quality with all of their papers. Well the order was printed and shipped within 2 days of my request and I recieved it yesterday. When I opened the package and checked out the prints, I was floored at how accurate they were and how consistent they were throught the different paper types. I've never seen anything so incredible. I'm so pumped to hear feedback from my clients!!

Favorites, Favorites!!

2009-03-24T09:07:00.002-04:00

Ok Friends,

In the spirit of the blog and some of the trivial information that is out there on ALOT of blogs, I thought I would add my contribution to the pile. ;-) In the words of Julie Andrews and Von Trap family, here a few of my favorite things:

Fav Lunch- Sushi

Fav Pizza- Fireworks Pizza in Leesburg, VA. Try the Smokey Blue. It RULES!!

Fav Guilty Pleasure- Krispy Kreme Baby!!

Fav TV Show- No Reservations

Fav Company- Apple Computer..They RULE!!

Fav thing to do to release stress- BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF MY DRUMS!!

Fav Music- Everything on my iPod

Fav Movie- Breakfast Club

Fav thing that I can't do without- Hi-Def TV..Once you fly first class, coach SUCKS!!

Fav Sound- The laughter of my kids

Fav Camera- Canon 5D MkII

Fav Soda- Diet Dr. Pepper

Fav Gadget- my iPhone 3G

Fav iPhone App- Tweetie

Fav People- My sons Wesley & Bradley

Fav Person- The J-Man.. My Rock

Fav Band- Toto...Don't Hate on Me!!

Have you had enough? I have... Let me know what your fav's are if you want.

Workflow, Workflow

2009-03-24T08:00:00.002-04:00

Ok...So this post isn't really geared for my clients and non-photographer friends, but sometimes one must indulge. I get asked alot about the gear that I use and my workflow from other photographers, students, and folks who hear that I'm a photographer and just wonder how things have changed since the days of film. Normally, I don't mind talking about gear, but lately I've changed the subject because in the end, the gear doesn't make the photographer. Even so, I promised a few friends and students that I would post something soon about all of that tech stuff that bores most people. So, for all of you that love the toys like I do, here goes:

Computers & Software-

17" MacBook Pro (Apple Rules!!)

Adobe Creative Suite CS4 (image editing)

Adobe Lightroom (image management)

Totally Rad Actions (Photoshop Actions)

Showit Sites (WebSite Design)

Photojunction (Album Design)

Storage & Back-Up- 3 Tier image Back-Up & Storage

LaCie 2Big Quadra 1TB RAID (Tier 1 Back-Up)

Drobo 4TB FW800 (Tier 2 Back-Up)*

SmugMug (Tier 3 Unlimited permanent image Back-Up)

Cameras & Lenses-

Canon 5D MkII *

Canon 40D

17-40 f4L Wide Angle Zoom Lens- I love this lens for catching everything!

24-105 f4L IS Zoom Lens- This is my "do everything" lens

50 f1.2L Prime Lens- This is my new "Fav"!! Buttery portrait lens.

70-200 f2.8L IS Zoom Lens- I can't live without this bad boy!! Tack sharp!!

Canon 580EX Flash

Canon 580 EXII Flash *

*- on order. Should have them in a couple of weeks.

I hope this answers any questions that my gear-head brethren have.

New Stuff for 2009

2009-03-06T09:20:00.002-05:00

Good Morning Friends,

As a follow up to my last post, I wanted to take a quick moment to update everybody with information on whats new for 2009. Besides moving my business and my life, I have made some product line changes to my packages. This mainly applies to albums, but I have also changed my online gallery provider to SmugMug. I've been toying around with switching over to them since the summer, but some of the changes they have made to their service sealed the deal for me and these changes will help my clients in several ways. First, SmugMug now has a new lab and I couldn't be more happy. In the past I have been using White House Custom Color with no complaints, but my gallery provider didn't integrate with them and this increased order times substantially. But now, SmugMug integrates seamlessly with Bay Photo. Bay Photo is an incredible lab and they have won practically every shootout on print quality and service. I'm really excited about this change. Also, with SmugMug you can preview the cropping on all photos that you order before you finalize your order. This is key and I have been receiving alot of feedback in the past from my clients about this feature and how much they wanted it. Well now, you've got it.

As for albums, I have recently decided to stream down my album offerings to make things less confusing to my clients. My standard albums will still be KISS Wedding Books because they ROCK!! But now, I'm proud to offer PictoBooks. These premium albums are pretty incredible and offer more options than you can shake a stick at. If you want jewels on your album, they can do it. If you can think of it, they probably offer it. I will still be able to order Finao, La-Vie, and Asuka Books if you want them, but my mainstays will be KISS and PictoBooks. Until next time....

I'm back!!.......Again!!

2009-02-27T09:13:00.000-05:00

Ok.....go ahead and say it, I'm a slacker. Its OK...I can take it. Yes, I said that I would be blogging about something every day and NO, I haven't blogged about something every day. But the truth is, I have been really, really busy over the past month. Probably the biggest thing going on is that I have moved myself and my business to Ashburn, VA. Getting settled has taken a while and I've been fighting an awful flu. Also, I quietly rebuilt my website and am getting good feedback on the new design. Feel free to stop by and send me feedback. Anyhow, I'm back and busier than I have been in a while. My calendar is filling up with weddings and engagement sessions and I couldn't be more pleased. OK....I could handle a little more business, but I'm not complaining. With all of the stuff thats happening in my life, I'm feeling truly blessed these days.

January Photographer Get Together

2009-01-26T08:57:00.003-05:00

This past weekend, I attended a photographer get together hosted by Armin DeFiesta and Julia MacInnis. There were over 50 wedding and portrait photographers from the Mid-Atlantic. It was so awesome getting together with old friends and meeting some new ones. Enjoy these videos from the event. Thanks to Noah Hayes for the videos. Enjoy!!

Canon 5D MkII

2009-01-17T17:16:00.002-05:00

Hey There Folks,

In my quest to live up to my New Year's Resolutions, I wanted to talk briefly a new camera on the market that is going to change the way that we(wedding photographers) work. That trend is combining still image capture with moving image capture. Traditionally, this meant hiring and paying for two people to document your wedding. Now, with the introduction of the Canon 5D MkII, we can offer both services in a very unique way. Everyone will offer different flavors, but the technology is there and the results are stunning. I'll save you the tech talk and let the image quality speak for itself. The Bebb's in Canada were the first folks of note to really talk about this camera and what it can do and its taking the world by storm. As a member of the [b]school, I have access to many wedding photographers from around the globe. Today I saw a video by a guy from Australia named Matt Ebenezer and it blew me away so much that I want to share it with you. I can't wait to get this camera for myself. Enjoy!!

Ben and Sally - a 5D Mark II wedding video - HD from Matt E on Vimeo.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

My beloved "Mama"

2009-01-16T09:07:00.002-05:00

This past New Years Eve, I lost the only grandmother that I have ever really known. My father's mother died when I was in second grade so I don't really remember her. My "Mama" was incredible and she and I were extremely close. The last few years of her life were spent in bed, not knowing who we were, but we never forgot who she was. Since I am the oldest grandchild, I was given the responsibility of of representing the family with some words about her. This was very hard to do, but I made it through. Even though, none of you knew her , I wanted to share with you the words that I shared at her funeral. She was truly an example for us all and I want the world to know this. I love you Mama and I hope to see you again one day...........

Today has truly been a long time coming. 99 years to be exact...and while we were thinking that Mama could make it to 100, the Lord had other plans. He must have felt that he had too few angels that could critique Tiger Wood’s swing and make the best homemade bread in the world all at the same time. While we all have our own fond memories of Mama (I call her Mama, some called her Mother, some called her Nana and some called her Mrs. Goodwin), the one thing that we all have in common is that we were loved unconditionally by her. Mama loved us all with her whole heart and soul and we never wondered how she felt about us. Not only would she tell us how she felt about us, she showed us all in so many ways. Mama was a shining example of how we all should love each other...Unconditionally. One of the proudest parts of Mama’s life was her family. If you looked up the definition of “perfect grandmother” or “perfect mother” in the dictionary, there would most likely be a picture of Mama. Whether it was talking about “girly stuff” with Martha Hunter, Molly, or Camp or talking sports with Hunter, Matthew, Peter or me...Mama could do it all without missing a step. She was always eager to hear about what was going on in our lives and we always knew that if we were having a hard time with anything, we could always talk to Mama. If we were sad, she would wrap her arms around us and tell us that everything would be fine and would always give us guidance. The other thing that we all knew was that if we were acting up, we need an extra 3 feet of running room to get away from the yard stick that Mama kept around for such an occasion. For some of us, this was never an issue, but for the rest of us, we made sure to wear our “fast shoes” when we stayed with Mama! Honestly though, Mama adored us all and we always looked forward to seeing her. She was also so proud of her children Bill and Patricia. She was always eager to tell everyone of her children’s accomplishments and about how proud she was of them. More than telling how proud she was, she showed how proud she was. She would light up when her family was together for holidays and special occasions and was always eager to hear about everything that was going on in our lives. Lastly, Mama adored her husband. Mama & Pop were the perfect example of how a married couple should be. We should all aspire to live by their example. They complimented each other and were each other’s other half. They were each 50% of a perfect 100% equation. They cared for each other so deeply that when Pop went to be with the Lord, Mama felt as if she lost half of herself. Sure, she stilled loved us all the same, but she has always been longing for the love her life. Well, Mama is complete again. She is with Pop walking through heaven, looking down on us all, and loving us in the same unconditional fashion that we have known for so many years.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Happy New Year

2009-01-16T08:53:00.001-05:00

OK...I know that I said that I would be posting things here more often, but the truth is my life has been a zoo for the last month. The holidays happened, my 99 year old grandmother died New Years Eve, and school started back. Plus, I'm in the middle of changing all of my marketing stuff. Wish there were more hours in the day!! Anyhow, I really do hope to get back to a more active blog life. Maybe, I'll start talking about stuff that I think is cool. Maybe, I'll talk about American Idol. Maybe, I'll talk about my awesome friends and my two boys. Maybe, I'll talk about business. Hey...I've got an idea....How about I talk about it all. One of my New Years resolutions is to get back to the old me. I've had tons of crap happen to me over the last several months and I'm tired of using it as an excuse to not be me. I'm sure that some of you are tired of it as well. Life is too short to not get something great out of each day. Sometimes, its hard to see it, but we can always find something good out of every day. So here is my promise to you... I WILL POST SOMETHING EVERY DAY!!! You may dig it...You might not. Either way...its time to get back to being me.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Feeling like reflecting

2008-12-15T08:31:00.001-05:00

Good Morning Friends,
Been a little bit since my last post, but things have actually been really busy. During the holiday season, I always seem to find myself looking back on the past year and summing up whether it was a good year or a not so good year. Either way, hopefully I learned something from it and can apply what I have learned to the next year. In my business life, this past year has been alot of things. Its been exciting, humbling, fun, enlightening. I love the business that I'm in and I can't wait for my business to develop into the business of my dreams, but with the state of the economy, we have all had to make changes in our business models to role with the punches. For some, its been easier, but for me its been humbling. I have had to take a step back and look at how I do things. Its easy sometimes to get over confident, but its also just as easy for you to get knocked down. One day its great....the next day....not so great. I see friends in other lines of work that appear to have everything going right, but the reality is that they are dying inside. I guess the thing that I have learned from this is that I really need to keep things in perspective. I can't beat myself up over things that I have no control over and I'm gonna make mistakes. Thats life. Everything happens for a reason.

In my personal life, the year has been equally humbling. I'm usually pretty private about my personal life and I don't see that changing much, but I will say that I have had the wind knocked out of me a little. I'm not going to go into detail, but you can read between the lines if you like. This rough time in my life has caused much pain, but has also enabled me to find the answers to many questions that I have had over the years. And that has been incredible!! I'm a true believer that through tough times, you are able to see things clearer and you can discover what is truly important. You also discover that no matter how bad things get, there are people that love you and have your back. These are the treasures of life and its so important to make sure that these treasures know how important they are. I'm sure that the year to come will be full of challenges, but its good to know that I have the support to weather the storm. I'm such a blessed guy to have what I have. I have great friends, two wonderful sons, and a wonderful family. But the most important thing that I have is unconditional love from those closest to me. That pumps me up....That sustains me!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

The Land Family

2008-12-03T08:13:00.005-05:00

Hey Folks...Been a long time! Hopefully, it won't be so long next time. I recently had the pleasure of shooting a family portrait session with my best friend Geoffrey and his awesome family! I love these guys very much and its always fun to hang with them and take pictures. They were one of my first clients when I started my company a couple of years ago and I look forward to shooting them alot more. Here are some of my favorite images from the day. Enjoy!!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

I've been KISSED!!!

2008-10-28T08:10:00.003-04:00

Hey Folks,

I just got my first KISS Wedding Book in and I have to say that it ROCKS!!! I ordered it for Mari & Jeff and we chose this sexy green leather to go along with their color scheme. I can't say enough good things about KISS. They are the best in every way and I can't wait until I order Kari & Jonathan's album. As I have said before, KISS has the best customer service, the coolest books and the greatest staff in the biz. Kevin Swan and crew will stop at nothing to help their customers and I'm proud to call them a vendor. I love these books so much that I have made them my standard offering for all of my packages! Here are a few pics that I took before I deliver the album to Mari & Jeff. Enjoy!!

Whats New w/PSQuared

2008-10-15T10:13:00.002-04:00

Let me start by saying that I know its been a while since my last post, but there has been alot going on around here and I have been really busy with alot of stuff in my personal life and my business life. For those of you that have been asking about my posting activity, there you go;-) So on to business stuff. Over the past couple of months, I've been working steadily on rebuilding my website and I can finally say that version 2.1 is done. Since August, I moved my website from my previous provider over to ShowitSites and I can't tell you how happy I am to be there. Their product and service is second to none and the flexibility that I have to make changes on the fly is incredible. Plus, there are constant upgrades and add-on's that I can use at will. Pretty GREAT!! David Jay owns the company and he has been instrumental in many of us getting our businesses set up the right way. Plus, he's a heck of a nice guy. I got to attend his Free to Succeed Tour back in August and he shared a ton of info with us. You can read more about my thoughts on this in earlier posts. Also, as of September, I'm no longer with Pictage. No need to go into all of the reasons why I left, but I have found a better solution for my clients in NextProof. Their galleries are fantastic and they don't harass you with a bunch of emails trying to sell you their products. Oops...Now you know one of the reasons why I left Pictage! Anyhow, my clients will love NextProof and the lab that I now use is White House Custom Color. They are the best in the business and I guarantee you will love their prints!

Lastly, I want to say something about KISS Wedding Books. For those of you that have followed this blog, you have read posts about KISS before. Well, I have to let you know that I just ordered my first KISS album for a client a couple of weeks ago and I have experienced the best customer service from them that I have received from any merchant, anywhere. I immediately had an email letting me know the status of my order and when I called with a question, I got the owner of the company, Kevin Swan, on the phone. He was aware of my order and was eager to talk to me about it. Now, I know that lots of people have talked about KISS in this way, but I thought that I would share my firsthand experience with you. If you are a photographer and you haven't decided on which album products to offer your clients, you should really check them out. Kevin is a working wedding photographer and they understand our needs like nobody's business. Plus, their albums ROCK!! Really hip, simple, and handmande! Can't wait until mine gets to me in a few weeks. Until next time...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Whats the deal with these Wedding Albums?

2008-09-25T09:56:00.002-04:00

You know, every time that I talk to a client or a prospective client, I get asked about wedding albums. Either they want an explanation about my product offerings or they want to know why I offer them (Yes, I said they want know why I offer them). So, since I seem to field these questions pretty regularly, I figured I should blog about it to clear up these questions. (At least from my perspective;-D) When I first got into photography, I worked at a pro lab in Manassas, VA that catered to alot of wedding photographers from this region. Because of this, we offered wedding albums. Keep in mind that this was in 1993 and alot has changed with wedding albums since then. The funny thing is that even though the product has changed, folks still sometimes think of wedding albums as a book with a fancy cover and windowed openings to slide your prints into. Now, don't get me wrong, the demographic that thinks this of wedding albums usually isn't the bride, its Mom (said with love of course!) Today's bride either doesn't think that they need an album or they know exactly what they want. The truth is that wedding albums; in most cases, are the first family heirloom that you will have. They are something to be treasured! If done right, they should help you remember your day and the special moments of love that were shared with your friends and family. As for the products, wedding albums today are custom, highend, one of a kind pieces of art that are put together with much care by wedding photographers like me. We have them custom designed for you and we use only finest products. Something so valuable deserves that much care. While there are many album makers out there, PSQuared Photographic believes in only offering the best. We proudly offer KISS Wedding Books, Laguna Albums and Couture Books.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Kari & Jonathan Married

2008-09-22T10:18:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of of shooting Kari & Jonathan's wedding in Southern Maryland. You could not have asked for a more beautiful day or a more fantastic setting. What made it extra cool for me was that I got to have my buddy Armin DeFiesta shooting second. He and I shot a wedding together last March and it was so fun that we had to work together again. He captured some truly amazing details and moments. Looks like we will be working together next summer! It will be a blast! Kari & Jonathan were amazing to work with and their friends were amazing to hang with as well. Here are a few of my favorite images from the day. I will have a slideshow with many more images up within a week or so. Enjoy!!

I'm Back!!!

2008-09-17T07:44:00.001-04:00

Hey there folks...Been a while since my last post, but I'm back and in "full effect". So....whats been going on??......well, I have a newly designed website and I invite you to take a look and tell me what you think. This site built with the Showit Sites platform and I love the fact that I can change things on the fly if needed. Thanks to David Jay for coming up with such a wonderful solution. School is back in session and I have another awesome group of photography students. Its truly gratifying to have kids sign up for my class year after year! They eat it up and I love it! This morning, I was greeted by the news that Canon has introduced a new version of the 5D and I want one really bad. Maybe I'll hit the lottery today and I can get on the waiting list;-) This past weekend, I had a great family portrait shoot with Christina & Kevin Pringle. Kevin is the brother of Jeff from Mari & Jeff's wedding back in May. They were a fun couple and Kevin was such a trooper considering the fact that he was running a high fever and the temperature on Sunday was 200 degrees. Look for some images from this shoot soon. Finally, Kari & Jonathan are tying the knot this weekend and I'm so pumped to have Armin De Fiesta shooting second for me. The "Boda Dudes" ride again! This couple is so fun and laid back. The images should ROCK. Look for them soon...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

David Jay & [b]ecker, Part Two

2008-09-03T09:31:00.003-04:00

Ok..Now that a week has gone by, I've had a few more moments to reflect on this special event. As I said in my previous post, this event was truly special and its pretty hard to hammer down every important aspect of the evening. Of course, the obvious benefit of the night was the networking that went on. Its so cool to meet so many great people in one night that are dealing with the same issues as you. While DJ and [b]ecker shared a ton of great business info, the core message that I got was that we need to develop friendly relationships with other photographers. Like I said in one of my first posts on this blog, there are tons of photographers out there that want to horde the knowledge that they have gained over the years and they would never think of sharing with another photographer. Well, I've got news for you; there is a new mentality that is going to take over the industry. Some call it "West Coast", but the truth is that its nothing but good business and it can only help brides and photographers out there. Thanks to folks like David Jay, [b]ecker, Photo Joe, Jessica Claire, Kenny Kim, and Jasmine Star, this message is spreading far and wide. Its so awsome!

Enjoy some pics from the event thanks to Kenny Kim, Noah Hayes, and Troy Woods!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

David Jay and Becker RULE!!!

2008-08-29T12:27:00.003-04:00

Hey there folks...Last night I had the pleasure of attending the David Jay "Free to Succeed" Seminar in Alexandria with a ton of great DC area photographers. When I heard about this seminar back in the spring, I wasn't sure if I was going to attend because I didn't want to be sold anything and because most of these "seminars' are nothing more than a platform for the presenter to tell how wrong you are and how right they are. Well, I'll tell you what, this was the best time investment that I have made for my company since I started. Luckily, I had help from my full time gig to pay for my spot, but I would have paid for it myself if I knew then what I know now. David Jay and Becker were so incredible and so sharing, that it felt as if you were just hangin a 100 of your closest friends. There was much "Photog Love" in the room and I met some great new photographer friends. I will write more later and will put up some pictures from the event, but I just wanted to put this up and say thanks to DJ and Becker for such as meaningful event.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

"Whats the Big Deal with Wedding Photography Anyway?"

2008-08-18T10:47:00.002-04:00

Ok folks...Time for the teacher in me to come out. With the economy in the state that it is now, wedding clients are becoming more aware of what they are spending on that special day. While this is normal and I would be the same way if I where going through this process, some folks are questioning the value of the photography itself. So, after hearing this a few times recently, I have some thoughts that might help other photographers and brides.

When you think about the expense of a wedding, it can get rather overwhelming and you start to weigh out what is most important to you when you choose vendors. Here is something to think about; when your wedding is over and you have gotten back to your routine, what elements from your special day will remain with you for the rest of your life? The food and the beverage will be gone and forgotten, the flowers will be gone, the music won't be playing any more and your friends will have gotten back to their routines as well. The only elements that will remain are your wedding dress and the memories that your photographer had captured. Now I'm not saying that those other things aren't important. They help make your day fun and enjoyable! But they don't last any longer than a day. The memories from that day are the only thing that will last forever. Just some food for thought...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

What's been happening?

2008-08-16T13:17:00.001-04:00

Hey there folks. Its been a while since my last post, but its not for lack of activity. I am in the middle of redesigning my web page and I'm almost done. I have been using Showit Sites and am so excited to reveal the new site to you soon. Its a whole new look and I think that you will be pleased. Also, I have finally gotten my gear replaced from the robbery and am eager to get back to image making. Normally, I would have been shooting alot this summer, but the lack of equipment and my family vacation kind of put a damper on things. Don't get me wrong, I loved my family vacation, but I'm so pumped to start shooting again. I have a wedding coming up in September with the great Armin De Fiesta shooting second with me and that starts off my fall. I'm really excited to work with him again. He is an amazing talent and my client is gonna love the images that we produce for her. I'm also really excited to be attending the David Jay workshop later this month. Look for a post about this event after I attend. Also, now that summer is drawing to a close, look for my blog activity to pick up. I've got alot to talk about. Until next time...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Dark Knight

2008-07-30T22:09:00.001-04:00

You know, in an age of Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, and all of that bubble gum crap that our kids are exposed to, I was so pleased to see a Batman movie that was authentic and raw. Don't get me wrong, I don't want my kids exposed to violence, but I hate how our culture creates children that believe that the real world is that fantasy garbage. Now to the movie, quite simply, it freaking rocked. Heath was amazing as the Joker and the twists are amazing. This Joker is quite deranged and very creepy. This is how the Joker and Batman were meant to be portrayed. This movie is so deep that it would take forever to cover everything. You have to see it to understand. One of the best movies I have see in a long time. Until next time...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Back from Vacation!

2008-07-29T10:16:00.003-04:00

Hey There Folks,
I know that its been a while since my last post, but I have been taking a break and enjoying some time off with the family at the beach. This vacation rocked and my kids had a blast. Here is the vacation in a nutshell:

Went to Myrtle Beach
Celebrated Bradley's 4th birthday on July 20
Watched Wesley experience his first vacation romance (Well, he is six and if you consider playing in the pool every day with the same little girl a romance, then there you go. He calls her his girlfriend and he says that he misses her. That will last all of a week!...I hope)
Went to the beach every day!
Watched both of my boys become little fish.
Saw the joy on Wesley's face as he caught his first big wave on his first boogie board!
Watched fireworks every night on our balcony.
Participated in my first "Belly Flop" contest
Drove home

Ok, thats the short of it. Here are some pics from our week. Peace out...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

iPhone 3G...Good Times!!

2008-07-12T20:57:00.001-04:00

Ok...Let me start by saying that I feel for those who are standing in line for the iPhone 3G. I promise you that its worth the wait. Now, I need to address those whiners out there who have nothing better to do than complain like a 3 year old about all of the events of yesterday. As someone that comes from a technology background, I was prepared for there to be glitches yesterday. It would be impossible for it to be any other way. No matter what either company did, someone would find something to say to complain about things. Well, GET OVER IT! There are other things to complain about in this country. Why don't you try redirecting your rage at something that is actually worth the energy. Sure, I didn't have to wait in line for hours for mine. I got very lucky. The funny thing to me is that some folks have started the PC vs Mac debate. Please don't make me go there folks. Ok...I will briefly go there. Here are the facts about the Mac vs PC debate"

Macs are built better
Macs actually cost less (yes, I said cheaper...if you build a PC laptop that equals the performance numbers, the PC is more expensive by about $800)
Macs are cooler:-) You know it baby!!
Macs are more reliable (sorry folks, this is true)
If you ask any IT person in any PC shop what they would prefer to support, they almost always say Macs.
MACS RULE!!!!!

There you go. Until next time, I wish you love, peace and ...........SSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUULLLLL!!!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Interesting 4th of July Holiday

2008-07-07T09:56:00.001-04:00

Hey There Folks...PSQuared here! I hope that everybody had a wonderful, restful 4th of July holiday. Lots of good food, fellowship, and fireworks! Me? Well, I had the fellowship and food, but I experienced something that I never thought would happen to me. I got robbed in broad daylight and this wonderful young man now has a pretty awesome camera rig;-( Yep, I had my gear stolen, but luckily I wasn't hurt in the process. Hopefully, I'll get my gear back soon. I need to shoot! Anyhow, I want to send congrats out to David Burke on the opening of his new studio. My buddy Armin de Fiesta and his wife Denise made the trip to P'burg and I'm looking forward to hearing all of the juicy details. Good Luck with the new facility DB. Anyhow, thats it for now. I'm getting ready to go on vacation with the fam and I'm looking forward to the beach. Until next time....

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Kari & Jonathan's E-Session Part 2

2008-06-25T09:30:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, the weather was beautiful and Old Town Alexandria was the perfect setting to shoot an E-Session. Last month I got together with Kari & Jonathan to shoot their E-Session in Annapolis. Unfortunately, we had to cut things short due to the weather, but this past Sunday was incredible!. No humidity, and a cool breeze. Kari and Jonathan are so fun to hang with and we had a great time. I can't wait for their wedding in September. Its going to be a blast! Here are some of my favorites from the session and a slideshow from both the Annapolis session and the Old Town session. Enjoy!

PSQuared Photographic is going "Green"!

2008-06-19T09:56:00.003-04:00

As you know by now, PSQuared Photographic is very proud to offer you Couture Books. What I failed to mention was that they are going to be offering "Green" album choices. These beautiful albums are manufactured using 100% post-consumer recycled acid-free paper and they utilize environmentally sensitive materials, like hemp, from conscious suppliers. The entire process is powered by by green-e certified windpower, and carbon offsets. Couture Books also plants a tree from the proceeds from each book. It amazes me that more companies don't offer more "green" choices! I am very proud to have a relationship with a company like Couture.

Thought of the Week 2

2008-06-15T15:23:00.004-04:00

Enjoy... Count how many times I say "Um" :-)

Thought of the Week 2 from Paul Price on Vimeo.

PSQuared & Couture Books pt.2

2008-06-13T22:40:00.002-04:00

A few months ago, I mentioned that I was going to start offering Couture Books. I had made this decision based on only word of mouth from my friends Sarah Hodzic and Armin DeFiesta. I trust these folks alot, but I hadn't actually seen these albums. Well, that has all changed as of today and damn if I didn't make the right decision. Plain & Simple...These are the most beautiful wedding albums I have ever seen or dreamt about. Words can't do them justice...they must been seen, felt, experienced. While these words may sound odd to some, it is the only way that I can describe it. They are so tactile, so unique, so breathtaking, so inspriring, so COUTURE. There are so many options that the best way to find out about them is to check out their website. Click here to find out what the fuss is about. I am going to see more of them in August and will try to snap some shots of them when I do. I am also going to order a studio sample soon. Until next time..

PSQuared & Laguna Albums

2008-06-10T11:04:00.002-04:00

The other day, I was doing my daily web browsing and I came across several posts on a few bridal forums about brides wanting to have choices for wedding albums that were animal friendly. At first I didn't think much about it, then my wife(who is smarter about alot of things than me!) brought up the fact that all of album manufacturers that we heard about when we were married were made of leather. Now, I have to admit that I love the smell and feel of fine leather, but I also recognized that there has to be an alternative that looks beautiful, feels special, and is made with all of the loving care that the finest leather albums have been know for. Lets face it, your wedding album is the first family heirloom that couples have that is just them. It should be well made and it should last a lifetime. After doing a bit of googling, I came across Laguna Albums. Cool name?.....sure. The deal with Laguna is that they have tons of choices for covers and they are all man made and animal free. They also look and feel like the finest leather you have ever seen. So rather than talk any more about them, I will direct you to their website. Click here to visit them. PSQuared Photographic is pleased to offer these wonderful albums as an option. Shoot me an email if you have any questions. Until next time......

PSQuared

Kenny Kim Baby!!.....Good Times:-)

2008-05-30T09:30:00.009-04:00

Yesterday, I had a blast hangin with Chicago based wedding photographer Kenny Kim in Reston. Kenny is in town for a wedding and he took time out of his busy schedule to hang with myself, Armin DeFiesta, Laura Auer, Noah Hayes and Peter Bang. Talking shop and a mock engagement shoot were on the agenda and we had a blast! Thanks to Armin for making all of this happen. You ROCK!!

Kari & Jonathan

2008-05-26T22:27:00.004-04:00

Happy Memorial Day Friends! A week ago, I had the pleasure of photographing Kari & Jonathan for their Engagement Session down in Annapolis. This couple is so great to photograph and they are pretty great folks as well. The only issue that I have is that Jonathan is UNC fan and I am a Duke fan(He and I will have to agree to disagree:-D) Seriously, they are great and I am looking forward to photographing their wedding in September with the great Armin DeFiesta shooting second for me. Here are a few of my favorites. We got caught by the rain, but we will continue with the session in Old Town Alexandria in June. Stay tuned for those images. Enjoy!

Nikon vs.Canon.....Again

2008-05-23T10:56:00.004-04:00

Ok...it's my turn to add my two cents to this long running debate. For those that are my friend on Facebook, you know that I put up a "thought of the week" video a few weeks ago dealing with this question. I got a few responses there, but I thought that I would get a little more detailed here. Let me preface this by saying that I am a Canon shooter and have been for several years. Their cameras are fine and I have had no problems with my gear, but I cut my teeth on Nikon and shot Nikon gear for 15 of the 18 years that I have been shooting. I have just been throwing around the idea of changing back to Nikon for last few months. The new D3 and D300 have really sparked my curiousity. The specs that you read are pretty incredible and there are pretty high profile folks shooting them. But lets keep this in perspective. Magazines are paid advertising dollars from certain manufacturers and these high profile shooters are also paid to rep the company. So here I am, a working professional photographer that is sponsered by nobody. Now I'm not the first person that is not sponsered that has these types of reviews on their blog, but hopefully I'll say something that means something to someone.

So here goes...The D3...Oh my god I want one bad....Need to win the lottery to get one...I'll save you the specs...they are available everywhere. I'll just give you a shooters perspective in short little bursts of thought..

Fast, Fast, Fast, Fast..........Did I say Friggin Fast Yet?
Best LCD display in the business...Bright, Super Sharp
Amazing Image Quality at very high ISO's (6400 is so useable, its ridiculous)
Built like a brick s***t house. (Sorry for the brashness...no other way to describe it)
Sharpest lens selection in the business
Dual Compact Flash Card Capability (Never need to change cards during a shoot..SWEET!)

Of course I could say more, but whats the point. The thing rocks!!

OK...The D300...Baby D3....More affordable...More bursts of thought..

Fast
Best LCD in the business(just like its big brother)
Amazing Image Quality at high ISO's (3200 is very useable, 1600 is scary good)
Amazing build quality
Huge, very sharp lens selection

Like I said above..the thing rocks..has alot of the same features as the D3.

So there is my take. My advice to anyone who asks...check it out for yourself. The bottom line is this..Canon is good, Nikon is good. Use whatever works for you. The most important thing is your eye...without that...you can't see;-) Post a comment with your thoughts or send me an email.

HOORAY!!!!!! I'm officially a BODA Dude...

2008-05-22T13:18:00.004-04:00

That's right folks...I've joined the ranks of Armin DeFiesta, Kenny Kim, Matt DeJesus, Jim Garner !Well...... at least I've got the same bag that they have. Now, if I only had their money and fame, life would be so SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTAAHHH;-)! Stay tuned for my review. I promise that you will find it worth the wait...Peace

Who am I?

2008-05-20T10:37:00.000-04:00

Feeling Nutty:) Enjoy!!

Who am I? from Paul Price on Vimeo.

More of Mari & Jeff

2008-05-09T08:46:00.003-04:00

Since the slideshow from Mari & Jeff's wedding can take a little while to load on some computers, I thought that I would put a few of my favorite images up for your enjoyment in still form. Hope that you like them...

Mari & Jeff's Wedding

2008-05-07T15:06:00.009-04:00

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing Mari & Jeff's wedding in Haymarket, Virginia. The wedding was in a beautiful stone garden at Evergreen Country Club and we had a fantastic view of the mountains. It was so great that the weather held out and they were able to have the wedding outside. It wasn't sunny, but the clouds provided incredible, soft light. Mari & Jeff are so photogenic and they are pretty great to hang out with as well. Here are some of my favorites from the day. Enjoy...

Getting back to normal

2008-05-02T22:20:00.001-04:00

Hey There Folks...I'm very happy to report that Beth is home and beginning the long road back and she is doing great. The kids still don't understand why they can't touch Mommy, but they are picking it up pretty quickly. On the business side, I'm so excited about photographing Mari and Jeff's wedding tomorrow. It looks as if the weather will be great and we can have the wedding outside. I love shooting in natural light so much more than flash and this couple is so photogenic. I can't wait to share with you the images from the day. I should have everything ready to post in a week, so stay tuned. Anyhow, thats all for now. Until next time...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Whats happening this week?

2008-04-29T23:41:00.001-04:00

Hey There Peeps...Quickly I wanted to give everyone an update about whats going on this week. First and foremost, I'm concentrating on taking of the fam this week. My wife had major surgery this morning (she is doing great by the way) and most of my week is dedicated to the fam. The boys are a little confused about what is going on, but all they care about is Mommy coming home soon. Also, PSQuared Photographic is getting ready for our first wedding of the season with Mari and Jeff on Saturday. Hopefully, the weather will hold out and we can shoot the wedding outside. But if it doesn't, we will still have a blast inside. Gotta go for now, but look for the images from Mari and Jeff's wedding towards the beginning of next week. Until next time...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

I just got Tagged! OK...5 embarassing songs that I wouldn't want to reveal..

2008-04-25T11:36:00.004-04:00

Armin DeFiesta just tagged me and he will regreat ever messing with PSQuared;-)

Ok..... here is how this works..

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs that you are embarassed to tell people that you like.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Are you ready? Here we go...

#1 After the Rain- Nelson

Ok so these guys have the best hair in all of pop. They would make beautiful brides some day;-) The main reason that I like this song is because its catchy. Also, when I was in college, I played in a band that covered this song and it got us girls! (Yes, I was in band and I had a mullet...Business in the front, Party in the Back:-0)

#2 Careless Whisper- George Michael (for you Armin)

Because I was in touch with my fem side? Hell, I don't know...I guess I liked it cause my girlfriend at the time had a crush on George (Boy was she barking up the wrong tree!) She liked to slow dance to it so I liked it.

#3 Making Love out of Nothing at All- Air Supply

This title still boggles the mind. Anyhow, simply I like this one cause a girl that dated liked it. Do you get the theme here?

#4 Thriller- MJ

OK...No matter how you feel about MJ, this song still rocks. I still know the whole dance break. (No Armin, No Armin, and I said No Armin...I won't do the dance and put in up on my blog:-) )

#5 Ice, Ice, Baby- Vanilla Ice

Yes...I went through a phase with this one. I still know the rap and no I won't do it and put up here. Thank you.....So Much.

David Jay
Jessica DelVecchio
Jenn Link
Justin Marantz
Mark Brooke
Jessica Claire
Jasmine Star

More of Mari & Jeff

2008-04-22T21:22:00.002-04:00

Here the slideshow that I promised from Mari & Jeff's Engagement Session. Enjoy!...

Mari & Jeff's Engagement Session

2008-04-21T08:55:00.009-04:00

This past weekend, I got to shoot Mari & Jeff's engagement session. We were lucky enough to have good weather on Saturday (rained all day on Sunday), so we took advantage of the weather and got some great shots! These guys are so photogenic and are really looking forward to their May 3rd wedding. Their wedding is in a beautiful location and its going to be outside! So, I'm really looking forward to having some more great natural light to shoot with. Here are some of my favorite shots from the session. Stay tuned for the full slideshow and the wedding day shots in May. Enjoy...

PUG's Rule!

2008-04-18T09:31:00.005-04:00

Recently, I've been asked quite a bit about how long PSQuared Photographic has been in business. While I give the actual answer to whoever asks, my perception of how long is a little different. Why is that you ask? Well, when I started the company a few years ago, I had many preconceived notions about what was needed to start a wedding photography business. I based my whole business plan on the model that I used for so many years as a commercial photographer and then didn't understand why my business wasn't growing at the rate that I was used to. Then in December 2007, it was suggested to me that I get involved in my local PUG. Whats a PUG you ask? No, its not a cute little dog that looks like it ran into a brick wall. PUG stands for Pictage Users Group. Basically, its a group of local wedding & portrait photographers that get together to talk shop, network and basically support each other. Man has this changed my business! Gone were my preconceived notions and boy did I have it all wrong. Thanks to Geoff Chessman and my local PUG buddies, Armin, Sarah, and Jessica; my eyes were open and my business has started to slowly grow. So ask me now when PSQuared Photographic started. I say it truly started the moment that I got involved with my local PUG.

Where have I been?

2008-04-17T07:18:00.002-04:00

Ok...I'm a little bit of a slacker with this whole blog thing. I have friends in the "biz" tell me, "you gotta post something everyday...even if its what you had for breakfast" (no offense Armin:-D). Well, the truth is, I always want to have something meaningful to say and I've never been one to even think about those little facts. I'm so set into a regular daily routine during the week (get up at 5am, drive 40 miles to school, teach great kids, come home, play basketball with my kids, go to teeball....you get the picture?), that I don't get much time to think about what I did that day. Now don't get me wrong, I have alot of fun teaching photography to some pretty great kids, but that part of my life doesn't need to be talked about on my blog. Its so hard not to mention the names of these talented kids and I can't legally do that. I have a blast hanging with my family, but we have such a set routine during the school year that I don't want to say the same thing every day.

But, with all that said, I'm going to change. Yes....this 42 year old man will change! I will write someting everyday from now on because, I do have really funny kids, a beautiful wife, great friends, and a business that is starting to grow. If I think really hard, I can find some pretty good stuff to write about every day. I just have to stop for a minute and appreciate how cool my life is long enough to write about it. Until next time........

Been too long!

2008-04-16T22:42:00.004-04:00

Hey there folks...I know that its been too long since my last post and I do have alot to say. Look for a new post in a day or so. Just wanted put something up to let eveyone know that I'm still here. Peace..

More shots from Jessica & John's Wedding

2008-04-04T12:07:00.008-04:00

Here there folks. I started using a really neat product called ShowIt Web for online slide shows. Most of the photogs I know have been using it for a while, so I'm a little late to the party. Anyhow, if you saw some of my earlier posts, you saw some shots from a wedding that I shot with Armin DeFiesta. Well, here are a few more. Let me know what you think. Until next time...

Spring is in the Air!

2008-03-31T08:39:00.004-04:00

You know, Easter at our house usually means one thing.......sugar.....lots of sugar!:-) My boys got their share and you would have thought that it was Christmas morning. They were up at the crack of dawn and the little darlings had eaten all of their Gummy Lifesavers by breakfast. Then they had a wonderful pancake breakfast fixed by the wifey poo that was full of maple syrup. Then we went over to Nana's house for an easter egg hunt and even more sugar. Good thing about Nana's house is that they have a big front yard and lots of space for them to run;-). Don't ya just love it:-0

Anyhow, the boys were great and they had a good time. I just wish that we could have a sugar free Easter for once. Maybe eggs fill with.........eggs;-)

PSQuared & Couture Book

2008-03-26T13:10:00.003-04:00

In my quest to provide my clients with products that are not only beautiful, but unique and individual, I am proud to announce that PSQuared Photographic will now be offering Couture Wedding Books as part of our album selection. While I want to give my brides options, I want to make sure that the products that I offer are of the highest quality and will last a lifetime. These albums are truly unique and come in many different styles and price ranges. Rumor has it that they will even be offering a "Green" product that is manufactured using recycled paper. The word on the street is that while these "Green" albums use recycled paper, they are completely gorgeous. Let me know if you want any more information on Couture. Until next time...

March PUG and new Photog Friends!

2008-03-25T10:30:00.011-04:00

You know, it amazes me everyday how willing the new breed of professional photographer is to share information and collaborate in a way that benefits everyone. As someone who cut his teeth in the cut throat world of commercial photography, I am so excited to be part of a community of photographers that actually care about each other's success. Last night I went to my third official PUG meeting (Pictage Users Group) and I am so glad that I took the time out of my Monday to go. It was so fun to hang with my new friends Armin DeFiesta, Jessica DelVecchio, Sarah Hodzic, Jenn Link, Ralph Alswang and Geoff Chesman for dinner and drinks at Cafe Deluxe. So much fun!:-) A good time was had by all!

After dinner we headed over to MBK Studios for the PUG meeting and talked about WPPI. WOW!!! I have to go next year. So much info. The highlight for me was Sarah Hodzic talking about
her studio. Her work is amazing and she is such a neat person. After hearing that she used to be a chef, I can't wait to trade recipes with her.

Anyhow, thanks to Armin for the images from Sarah's presentation. Enjoy!

Spring Break...Don't you love it?;-)

2008-03-20T22:46:00.005-04:00

While all of my photographer friends were off to Vegas for WPPI, I had the pleasure of watching five very nice gentlemen paint my house. Actually, I'm not at all bitter. They did a great job and I love the colors that my wife picked out. Its always fun to make these changes in my house. Makes me feel like I have new home all over again. Pretty cool. I'll post a few shots of their handywork soon. On the photography side, I'm really looking forward to hearing about WPPI from all of my photographer friends. I'm really hoping to be there next year. Also, check out my website for some updates. I have decided to offer KISS Wedding Books as standard fare with all of my packages. I'm so excited about these awsome albums. I can't wait to order one for my upcoming spring events. Until next time...

PSQuared Photographic is now part of the KISS Army!!!

2008-03-14T08:41:00.011-04:00

Hey there folks...Told you that I would be back sooner than later. In my seemingly endless quest to offer my brides the best product out there and keep their stress level at a minimum(love to eliminate stress all together, but lets face it, no stress at all is a little unrealistic in the world that we live in), I'm proud to announce that I'm now offering KISS Wedding Books to my clients. While researching album manufacturer after album manufacturer, I kept hearing the same thing from other photographers and brides alike. While they were very happy with the quality of their albums that were made by the big name companies(won't name them here, but you probably know which ones I'm talking about), they didn't have fond comments about the order process. The process was all together too long. Personally, I don't think that a bride should have to wait up to a year for an album, especially if they have already paid for everything.

Kiss Wedding Books solves this problem for both the photographer and the bride! I can't tell you how excited I am to offer this amazing product to my brides. These albums are gorgeous, handmade to order, and can be in your hands within 45-60 days after your wedding (pending your final approval of the design). They are also considerably less expensive than those better known brands. Check out their website for info on the company and their blog to see actual customer albums. Click on the reviews section and browse. Give me a shout if you have more questions about these albums. Enjoy...

Images from Jessica & John's Wedding in Southern Maryland

2008-03-10T22:33:00.006-04:00

Here some of the images that I produced with Armin DeFiesta at Jessica & John's wedding in Maryland. Armin DeFiesta and I had a blast documenting this wedding. Lots of love and lots of fun. Enjoy!

Wedding in Southern Maryland

2008-03-10T08:00:00.005-04:00

Hey there folks. Sorry for taking so long between posts, but things have pretty hectic. I promise to pick things up a bit. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of working with the "Uber" talented Armin DeFiesta in Southern Maryland for a very fun and very big NASCAR themed wedding. We are talking big Earnhardt fans folks. Lots of red, black and white! Armin and his wife Denise rock and were so great to work with! Hopefully, we will get the chance to work together in the future.:-) Anyhow, I've got lots of images
to edit through and will be posting some here and on my website ASAP.

Stay tuned!

Round Ball Time Again Baby!!!

2008-02-23T14:35:00.002-05:00

That time of year again. Are you ready for March Madness? My oldest started playing basketball this year and he is hooked. I thought that he was crazy about baseball but he is nuts about basketball. He is already starting to learn the pro's and their teams. Round these parts, its ACC baby! Go Blue Devils! Enjoy the pics of my little "baller". He's quite the little defensive player.

Whats new for PSQuared Photographic

2008-02-14T09:38:00.007-05:00

Hey there folks. I know that it's been a while since my last post but things have been pretty busy. With spring approaching, business is picking up and I have implemented a new service that will make my customer's process a little less stressful. Booking and paying for photography services can often be a stressful situation due to the fact that brides have a million things to do and not alot of time to get things done. With that in mind, I am pleased to let you know that you can now book and arrange automated installment payments for your wedding photography services online at my new Pictage P3 site. You simply go to http://p3.pictage.com , enter PP032 for the studio id and enter guest as the password. Once in the system, you can view all of my packages, request a date, and set up automated credit card payments for your package. When you request a date and package, an email is sent to me and I will set up a meeting to finalize the particulars. Hopefully, this service will make your life easier and will allow you to concentrate on other things during your wedding planning process. You should have fun during this process, not stress out. Enjoy!

Do what you love...Love what you do!

2008-01-29T13:41:00.001-05:00

You know, in my 42 years I have probably had more jobs than most and honestly, I have learned alot from each one. In the past, I have worked at jobs that I hated and jobs that I loved. But, the most important thing that I learned from that experience is that if you don't do what you love and love what you do, you will never be truly fulfilled. You may make some cash, but in the long run, what will you leave behind? Will people remember you as the person that got alot accomplished every day, or will they remember you as the person that made a difference in this world. I'm not saying that we should ignore our responsibilities, but I think that everyone should strive to do what they love. It may take a little time to get to that point, but the trip can be quite incredible. Peace...

Wedding Season Approaches

2008-01-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited about the upcoming wedding season! PSQuared Photographic is geared up and ready to help all brides. If you know anyone in your life that is getting married any time in the future, let them know that PSQuared Photographic is here for them. I have some specials that I will be running that will make it easier for any bride to concentrate on having fun on their special day...not worry about all of those little details that stress everyone out. Have them drop me a line at paul@psquaredphotographic.com and I will give them all of the details. Until next time...

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-10T07:53:00.000-05:00

Its been too long since my last post, but things have been really busy. A wonderful family to photograph over the holidays and a new website to start off 2008. Check out the new digs
@ http://www.psquaredphotographic.com. Let me know what you think. So I have been asked what my New Year's resolution is and the truth is that I have a few. Here they are:

Keep my resolution!:) (We all know that most folks forget their resolution after the bubbly wears off from the celebrations)
Dedicate more time to my family!
Invest myself in two people. (Human beings are the best investment of all.)
Read a good book for enjoyment, not because I have to.
Build my business
Post to my blog more than once a month:)
Market myself and my business more effectively

So raise a glass to keeping all of our resolutions. Until next time...

Favorite time of year!

2007-12-07T10:29:00.000-05:00

Hey there again. Man I love this time of year. Took my bro's to the Manassas Christmas Parade. Man it was cold, but a good time was had by all. The boys were bummed that they didn't get to see Santa. His float was #105 out 105 and the parade was about 3 hours long. They survived. Here some of the shots that I fired off. The boys love it when I take pictures of them. Until next time....

The state of Photo/Art Education

2007-12-05T08:09:00.000-05:00

As someone who was lucky enough to receive a formal photography/art education, I have to say that I am a little concerned about the state of photographic/art education that is available for our children. I fear that the lack of funding that most arts programs receive and the inconsistent exposure to digital technology that some instructors have could potentially doom these programs. For the last 6 years, I have been teaching photography in a school system outside of Washington DC and I am lucky to have had an administrator that supported my vision to integrate digital technology into my program. But, there are many "photo/art educators" out there that either don't understand the technology or don't believe that is important enough to teach to students on that level. Well, the reality is that we live in a digital world and we need to prepare our children for the world that they will live in whether they are in elementary, middle, high school or college. To deny the relevance of digital technology is pretty naive and we are doing our children a disservice if we don't embrace it ourselves. This doesn't mean that we are any less creative as some "purists" would believe. We just use a different kind of paint brush. Please support you local arts programs with your time, money if you can, and advice. They rely on your help to survive.

Peace,

PP

Take a walk....Take a picture

2007-12-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

You know, in this age where we are so on the go that we miss the beauty of this world around us, I think that it is so important to take a walk sometime. I'm sure that some of us could use the exercise, but we can also take a little extra time to see the beauty that is our world. The shot that you see here is from the Manassas Battlefield. I drive by it every day on my way home from school and never stop. I'm sure glad that I took the oppotunity to stop on this day. Enjoy.

Tools of the Trade

2007-12-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

Hey there once again. I get asked every now and again by folks that I meet and my students about the gear that use for my shoots. So with these folks in mind, I'll go ahead and post it here. Hopefully those who want to know will be satisfied........Do I sound just a tad snippy...I never can tell when I read my own stuff...Anyhow, here you go. Enjoy!

Camera- Canon 1D MkIII
             Canon 30D

Lenses- Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS
            Canon 17-40mm f/3.5-4.5L
            Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
            Canon 85mm f/1.2L
            Canon 580 EX
            Canon 580 EXII
            Gary Fong Whale Tail
            Gary Fong Light Sphere

Computer- Apple 17" MacBook Pro
Software- Adobe Photoshop CS3 w/plenty of plug-ins (image editing)
              Adobe Lightroom (photo workflow)
              ShowIt Effects

Printers- Epson Photo Stylus Pro 2200
             Epson Photo Stylus Pro 3800

Color Management- Colorburst X-Proof RIP (Output)
                             Datacolor/Colorvision (monitor calibration)

Local Storage- G-Tech and Lacie Firewire Hard Drives
Remote Storage- Pictage

Hope that this satisfies all of the gear heads out there. Peace! PP