Three Cheers for Beautiful Pictures!

They always say pictures are important. Two friends of mine recently tied the knot and the bride went through many of the pictures and couldn't believe they were from her own wedding. "You never realize how fast it will be over!" So in order to preserve your happy day here are some suggestions for interviewing Photographers and some talented Georgia photogs for your viewing pleasure.

1. Look at a wedding from start to finish.
Always ask to see a finished product rather than just the best shots over the career of the photographer. This will ensure you understand what you will get at the end of the day and give you some clue about his or her personal style.

2. Ask who will ACTUALLY be shooting your wedding and look at their work not simply the headliner of the studio.
Just because the big name will not be there does not guarantee bad shots but be sure you know so you are not surprised on the big day. Ask how many weddings the photographer has done in their career? Are weddings their primary job? And do they have references you can call?

3. Digital proofs
Find out about the proofs at the end. Can you access and print them without contacting your photographer? Will you recieve a copy of any of the shoots (via book or copies)? Who prints the pictures and can far away relatives access and print them without help? Will you receive a CD with all your photos or only some?

4. Style
What stle of photos does your photographer prefer? If you prefer modern and funky prints pay careful attention to the number of pictures that represent shots you would like of your own wedding. If there are very few examples it is unlikely you will be happy with your pictures. Also emphasize important pictures to you so the photographer will know what is important to you. If there are special people not on the traditional list mention them. If there are particular pictures you want tell them or bring examples from other weddings or photographers.

5. Pricing
Be aware! Before you sign a contract be sure you understand what services you are paying for (and those you are not.) Will they be there all day? Do they have an assistant? Is he or she included in the contract? Will you receive a digital copy of all prints? If they have to travel what costs are you responsible? How many cameras will be there? Does the package include engagement photos? These are all questions you need to answerv before you sign on the dotted line.

6. Film Quality and Photo Editing
This is an important question many couples forget to ask. Does the photographer use exclusively digital or do they use film as well? What about black and white shots? And finally how much photo editing is done on the pictures? The use of photoshop can make pretty pictures beautiful but you want someone who is adept at editing and will produce a product you will cherish.

As promised here is a list of noteworthy shutter bugs in Georgia:

Sara and Slava Slavik:
Beautiful and romantic pictures, well edited with intuitive knowledge of what is flattering.

Tony Harrell:
Classic wedding style serving south Georgia. A note of warning, the website is a bit unweildy but the photos are good quality so there are worth the wait.

Edward Zeltser:
Photojournalist with reasonable prices but top quality pictures.

Jessica Sibley:
Great images with a flair for unique images and as an added her website is excellent! Also she presents a complete wedding on the site from start to finish.

I will put up more as I find them andd if anyone has a suggestion please feel free to let me know!
Good luck,
AZAW

Recipes to Make Life Taste Better

It is my philosophy that life is much to short for bad food. With that in mind I have found some resources with exceptional recipes that are both beautiful and flavorful. You don't have to be a world class cook to prepare a great meal.

The first website is Williams Sonomna.

The great thing about this site is there are not so many recipes that you are overwhelmed but all of them are well thought out and beautiful. They certainly remind you that you first eat with your eyes!
**Note** Today I made the leek and Canadian bacon tart and they turned out beautifully!


The second collection is the blog from elise.com called Simply recipes.

This is a blog website but there are many different recipes as it is well established. The best part is that with every recipes comes a picture of the finished product. I find that while in the kitchen with a new recipe, I always feel more confident when I know what the end result should look like. Also the pictures help me chose recipes if I am not looking for anything in particular.

Another great website if you don't have an all knowing mother to consult for cooking advice is
In particular there is a posting called "47 Things I Wish My Mother Had Taught Me About Cooking" which is a stellar resource even for the more adept cook. They also provide many recipes and general advice that everyone can use with an emphasis on international foods.

As much as I hate to admit it, Rachel Ray deserves a mention here. Here 30 minute meal is a life saver and many of the meals are inventive and fulfills my preference for pictures.
http://www.rachaelray.com/food.php
Her voice leaves a lot to be desired but she is a smart and quick cook with plenty or recipes for a quick but filling and tasty meal.

***A note of recipe collections like allrecipes or epicurious***
Many people love these websites as super cookbooks but in my experience (though limited) I have found them a bit unwieldy with few pictures and numerous repeats. I prefer collections like those mentioned above because they are well appointed with sure fire recipes and careful instructions. If you slready have something specific in mind they are a great resource but for browsers like myself the afore mentioned are my preferences.

Good luck and good eating!
AZAW