Kelly McCord Photography Blog

V-B-S is F-U-N

Every year for the last at least 20+ years of my life, (with a break of a few years when I was away at college), basically since sixth grade, I've been volunteering at our church's Vacation Bible School. Specifically for the last 4-5 (or six?) years, I've volunteered as the VBS Photography Director, and have had the privilege of shooting the 250+ kids for the entire week; every day, all day. It's exhilerating, exhausting and SO fantastic that I get a chance to volunteer for (and serve) the kids every year. I love it so much, and it's an ongoing debate whether we (the adult volunteers), or the kids (at the camp) have more fun , and I'd say it's a wash -- we all have a great time. It really is something very near and dear to my heart, and we eargerly anticipate the week-long fun every year. In fact, it doesn't feel like summer until we've experienced VBS.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel comes every year, to document and write about all the F-U-N that we have, and this year was no exception. What's kind of fun (for me, anyway) is that the picture they in the paper this year was of me!  So, if you've been wondering where I've been, this photo is a good illustration of what I get to do all week.  And while VBS is D-U-N, =) wedding season has ramped up, so while I've been very bad at updating my blog, I'll try and do better, despite being in the midst of my busiest time of year. I still haven't told you about so many of the fun weddings and cool portrait sessions I've shot; so stay tuned for lots more photographic phun! =)

I Was Quoted!

I keep forgetting to blog about how I was quoted in WedPix, a wedding photography magazine devoted to wedding photojournalism. I never want to post it on one of my weddings posts, and I couldn't figure out where else to put it. So to heck with it.  Here's the link to the article I was quoted in Click here to go read the article. It discusses the way photographers see patterns, etc., and they called and interviewed me because of one of my photos that won an award (which, surprise(!) had repetition in it! I know! Go figure!). If you want to hear more about the image, that made them interview me, you can read/go see it here.

Like I said, I feel weird tooting my own horn, but there it is. =)

Toot. Toot.

Award Winning! AGWPJA

I've written before about how I'm a amember of the WPJA, and also how when I entered my first contest with the WPJA that I placed, and could now be considered 'award-winning'.

Well, I entered the most recent [AG]WPJA contest .  The [AG]WPJA is the 'Artistic Guild' of the Wedding Photojournalist Association, a sub-group of the WPJA, which is -- from the site: "A group of international wedding photojournalists, who  capture unscripted wedding moments as they happen, and excel in the art of post-production image processing," or basically -- you're good at  not only capturing images ina photojounalistic style, but that you're good at Photoshop/post-processing after you've shot the images).   To be listed as a member of the [AG]WPJA (and not just the regular WPJA), you have to have placed in the top ten in one of their contests to be considered a 'member' and listed. 

So, all that to say -- I entered the most recent contest, and placed in the top ten!! So I'm now a member of the WPJA, and the [AG]WPJA.  I'm thrilled, because I think my post-processing is one of the things that sets me apart, and I'm glad to be recognized because of it. 

The above shot is the the image that placed. If you want to see it on the site, you can see it by clicking here. I entered it in the 'details' category. The judges comments were:  Classic, timeless elegance is reflected in this well toned image. The vertical lines of the veil contrast the looped hair which is offset by the ornaments. It's a simple moment that has been pushed along by great toning.

Anyhow, I'm thrilled to have another 'award-winning' image!  Especially because I really love this image -- it's just nice to be recognized doing something you love and have so much passion about.  I also recently had another image get into a wedding magazine.  I'll scan it and show it to you guys soon!

I'm In Elle Magazine!!!

I am thrilled to let you in on a little secret. One of my wedding photos is in the March issue o f Elle Magazine.  I'm not kidding. It's something I've known might happen for a while, but have been waiting to see if it would happen.  One of the other florists I think is great (yes, there are other florists besides my Aunt Susi (but only a small handful) that I think are great, anyhow, Teresa, of Bonny Doon Garden Co., and I have worked together on a few weddings. One of the weddings we worked on together was Valentine and Darrell's wedding.

And what was really unique about Valentine and Darrell's wedding, was that they did all their flowers organic. So Teresa called me up ahead of time, and asked me to take some shots for her, since it would be a unique thing, and she knew of a woman working on a book about the organic flower industry, Amy Stewart, who might be interested in using them, or at least seeing them. So, after the wedding we showed them to Amy, and she contacted us later in the year, to let us know that Elle was going to be writing about her book, and could she send a few from that wedding, in case they wanted to use some. So fast forward to today, and I got an email from Teresa, letting me know that they used one of the  shots I took. How awesome is that?!?!? I am thrilled.To be in Elle magazine in any capacity is exciting.  The shot featured here is the shot they used, and once I get a copy of the magazine, I'll post that as well.

This news is icing on the cake of  a great couple of weeks for me. I've booked 8 new weddings for this year, in the span of less than a week, I'm already starting to book 2008, and I'm starting my season this upcoming weekend. So things are great, and busy. I've got 18 weddings already for this year, which is considerably more than I had at this time last year.

One of my clients, who hired me last year, Kate and Matt,  were originally going to have their wedding in Chico, decided to scale way back, and have a small destination wedding in Cancun, of which they asked me to go and shoot. I'm SO excited, as I love travelling, and I love shooting, so to get to combine them in an official capacity is more than thrilling. Plus, I really like Kate, and get along with her so well already, that I know it's going to be a blast.  I'm so stoked they're able to fly me and my assistant out to shoot their wedding, and I can't wait!! It's been one of my goals to shoot an international destination wedding (I've shot destination weddings before, just not internaltionally), my next goal is in Europe or the UK (preferably Italy, of course). =)  So things have been really great the past few weeks, albeit, still very busy. But good busy, not, I've I'm-not-sleeping-because-I-have-to-get-stuff-done kind of busy, just regular busy, which is much more mangeable.

Banner

I just uploaded my new 'award-winning' banner. Not really that exciting to anyone but me, but there it is.  WPJA sent an email out to those who've won, letting us know the new banners were up about 1 month ago. I've been a little busy, and am just now getting around to it.  Still cool though.

Site of the Week!

A few weeks ago, I told you about being selected by collages.net, as their site of the week.  And this morning, I received an email, with my shoot of James and Jen, as site of the week, with a little blurb about our photo session. If you want to see it, you can see it by clicking here.

I've also been editing like mad, so I'm hoping to post some more weddings shortly.

Site of the Week! Jennifer and James

The past few months, I've been using Collages to host my images, after I'm done editing.  Well, they have this thing that they do, called Website of the Week. Well, I've noticed lately that they've been checking out my photos quite a bit, and I got an email a few days ago, telling me that they'd love to feautre a recent shoot I did, with my upcoming (this weekend) bride and groom, James and Jen.  We did a photo session at the beach in Santa Cruz, and the photos turned out so fun. I was thrilled that they were chosen, and will be featured on the Collages site.

Anyhow, I thought it was pretty cool, so while I'm showing you photos from the shoot with James and Jennifer. I also wanted to tell you about being chosen to be featured. I thought that was pretty cool.  I'll post the link to the Website of the Week, when I'm on there. But for now, here are some of my favorite photos from the shoot they'll be featuring.

We all piled into their VW van, with their two dogs), and drove down to the beach on the east side, sort of close to Portola, off of 30th, and while shooting, we were stoked as the sun set, it was probably the most gorgeous sunset we've had this year, and I love that the photos reflect not only James and Jennifer's personalities, but also a perfect, Santa Cruz sunset.  This is why it costs so much to live here.

If you want to see all the photos, you can do so by clicking here. 

Another fun thing about these photos, is that they're being made into an album/guest book. So instead of people just signing a blank guest book. I worked with James and Jen to create an album, which will be printed and bound by the company I use to create my wedding albums, so they'll not only have a guest book, for their friends and family to write well-wishes and blessings, but they'll also have a beautifully printed and bound album of their engagement photos, as an heirloom, with all their loved-ones writing all over it.  If you're one of my future, or present brides, and are interested in something like this, let me know, and I can show you a sample.

A few more of my faves, after the jump...

Award Winning!

I've talked before, about how thrilled I was to be accepted into the WPJA. It's a hard organization to be accepted into, and I know photographers who have tried multiple times to apply, and weren't accepted.. So I was thrilled when they accepted me after my first application. Anyhow, they have quarterly contests, and I entered one for the first time about a month ago. And I was thrilled when one of the images I entered placed!!

This means I'll get a medallion next to my name, in their listing of photographers, that lets people know that I'm 'award-winning.'  I was thrilled to get an image in on my first try, and if you look through the amazing caliber of images, you'll see why -- the photographers on wpja are incredible, and I strive to be as good as they are.  If you want to see the winning image, with judges comments, you can do so by clicking here. 

Membership Has Its Privileges

"Photojournalistic Wedding Photographer" is something that a lot of photographers bandy about these days (well, the past five years anyhow). And it's the label a lot of photographers are using, without technically being one. I've called myself a photojournalistic wedding photographer since I began, as catching the moments as they happen, in an unobtrusive way (and not creating or setting up moments) is what I've always been all about.  I understand the need to take portraits, but even when I'm shooting portraits, I usually just ask the bride and groom to interact with one another, and be themselves, while I shoot them, instead of the 'put your hand in your pocket, tilt your head this way, look that way,' approach. I like to try and capture who people really are. 

The reason I'm telling you all this, is because I got an email today, telling me I was accepted into the Wedding Photojournalist Association.  This is huge, for me, as it validates my photography style, confirming that I really am a photojournalistic wedding photographer.  They have a stringent screening process. They even state, "The Wedding Photojournalist Association is a highly screened, critical organization. Less than 5% of wedding photographers out there qualify for membership.

and

Leading the way in Wedding Photojournalism, WPJA represents the most discriminating talent around the world technically, creatively and visually. Qualified members hold industry-leading standards, skills and business integrity. And...to celebrate the photographers who document and record the found moment. "

And...

What sets our members apart in the industry is their candid, documentary approach – a distinctly artistic vision toward wedding photography.

So to be included with the amazing photographers they have listed on their site is an honor, and a thrill.  And now, I am a member of not only the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, but also the WPJA.