3 Secrets to better Facebook pictures

A friend and top-notch videographer vented on his facebook status about blurry, out-of-focus pictures on facebook. He only wants people to be more selective about posting crappy pictures. I could feel his pain. I hate when people post crappy pictures. So, here are some keys to posting better pictures on facebook.

1. Only post pictures that are IN FOCUS -- If it's blurry or out-of-focus.....don't post it. The moment is just never that important. No matter how good looking you think you are, the fact that the picture  is out of focus will negate your good looks. Don't get me wrong, there is such a thing as artistic blur.....but even a fool knows when a picture is artistic or just a bad shot.....and everybody gets bad shots.
2. Only post FLATTERING pictures -- It's just plain wrong to post pictures of yourself or your friends that are unflattering. Follow the "Do unto others" rule.
3. Follow the LIGHT. My mentor always says, "Photography is simply painting with light." Take pictures in good light. A huge hint is to face the good light. If you're taking pictures near a window, face the window.

3 ways to guarantee AWESOME bride and groom portraits

It's your wedding day. Your family and friends have come from near and far. They want to be there to watch as you say "I Do" to the love of your life. Everybody has put on their best outfits and donned their brightest smile but no one will be as stunning as you coming down the aisle to meet your groom. Your inner circle love you dearly. They'll cheer when the minister says, "I now pronounce you man and wife." They'll beam with joy when it's time to 'kiss the bride.' They'll give you hugs and pull you aside for 'their' picture with you and your brand new husband. You'll smile so brightly and so often that your jaw will be sore.....and you'll love every minute of it. All the planning and prep, all the details boil down to this.....and you want to soak in every minute of it.

The happy couple is the center of attention and the want to remember the day forever. But sometimes in the joy and bliss of the day they miss out one very important thing......bride and groom portraits. They have pictures of everything, and with everyone, but stepping away to create the portraits that will hang on their walls gets the least attention, or sometimes get's completely overlooked.

Hire the best photographer, then take these steps and you'll have AMAZING bride and groom portraits.

1. Schedule at least 2 hours between the ceremony and reception for bridal party pictures, family pictures and bride/groom portraits. 
• Yes, it seems like a long time but creating amazing, breathtaking pictures takes time and requires that you leave the wedding guests behind so that you can have as few distractions as possible. 
2. Do a first look.
•  This is a photographer and videographer's dream for every wedding. The bride and groom agree to see each other before the ceremony and take amazing pictures. It is all staged  by the wedding professions to achieve the sweetest and most powerful reactions from the happy couple. Then they are wisked off for a photo session that is just mind blowing. 
3. Plan for a post-wedding session. 
• If you weren't able to get the pictures that you wanted on your wedding day then it's not too late. It is always possible to schedule a session after the wedding. I highly recommend that you do this as soon after the wedding as possible.

Here's a sneak peek of a Post-Wedding session. Jason and Tajana are a wonderful couple. She's gorgeous and he loves every cell in her body. It's obvious. I was not their wedding photographer but I've always wanted to photograph them....so I asked.....and they said 'Yes'. We spent about 2 hours together and the result is an amazing photo story that makes me scream with joy. There's a beautiful open trail in Lithonia and I've dreamed of the art I could create there. These two were the perfect couple to make my dream come true.

Love these pictures?

• Then book your wedding day photography with Photos by Pru.
• Maybe you didn't get the pictures you wanted on your wedding day, it's not too late, book your own Post-Wedding Session. I'd love to make it right for you.
• Don't forget to follow me on Facebook.

Want a little more? Watch this video below!

Cool things to do in the cold weather --- brrrr

It's going to be 5 degrees on Monday morning. Yes, 5! 1.2.3.4.5. My body was not made to tolerate that kind of weather. One kid is supposed to go to school, the other will be home. But I have a sneaky feeling that school will be canceled for both. So here is a some cool stuff that we are going to do, except that we're going to take advantage of the cold weather to see how things work out.

Then we're going to film it, photograph it and share with you all :). Should be fun. #ScienceExperiment. #NerdAndProud

Perspective --- Putting it all in focus

Tonight, the first night of the new year, I went on a date with my very sexy husband. Just the two of us. It felt good. Life has been hectic for me lately and as we talked I started on a diatribe of complaints about work and kids and business and marketing and house chores....and he looked at me and said, "Isn't all that exciting?" I was like, "Yea, but, it's so much work....and I'm tired."

But that one comment had me thinking, maybe that's my problem, perspective. I wouldn't want it any other way. I love all that I have to do. But I'm not enjoying it as much as I should and the truth is that these are the moments that I will miss. I'm gonna miss this but the complaints are some sort of payoff mentally and I need to give it up b/c it's weighing me down and keeping me from enjoying, fully enjoying doing the exact things that I dreamed about. My life is good. Really good and I like it!

So. I started a grateful jar. I am going to fill it up with things that made me happy throughout the year. I'm already excited.


This little video reminded me of all things to be grateful about.

After all that she's endured in the last few months, this is proof that Lauryn Hill still has the X-Factor! YES! She has it.

This piece is about 12 minutes long, but worth every, single minute.....the ending, the best part. I hope that one day she makes peace with the music industry so that the world can regularly enjoy her art. We deserve that much.

Every girl has had a moment in her life where her chickens come home to roost. In other words, you have to face the music and deal with the consequences of bad behavior. If you haven't experienced it yet, just hold on....your day is coming. It's happened to all of us.....more than once. But it's not the end, there's always a bounce back. There's always a renewal, a rejuvenation, a re-emergence. You can choose to recover or wallow in self-pity. But you will always get a chance to do the thing that defines you and it breathes life into a space that needed refreshing. This is Lauren's moment. She DID THAT!

This will make your smile... GUARANTEED!

You'll watch this video....and smile the whole way through. And if you're really awesome.....find a mirror, stand up....and TWIRL!!!!

This video is my motto to every girl who says she's too ugly, too fat, too (insert negative adjective) to do boudoir photos. Make 2014 the year to do something different!

Watch and smile!



My favorite beauty tips from this video....

1. Start thinking of your 'flaws' .... as differences....we all have them
2. Sometimes you need to break fashion rules and just wear something .....simply because it feels good.
3. Being vulnerable means that you are open to fully experience JOY! (Sidebar: currently reading Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown ---- OH MERCY, I must write about that....powerful!)
4. Decide that you are going to control your own perspective. Perception is reality
5. Another word for sexy? Confident. 
6. Breathe
7. Express Yourself....kindly, without apology
8. Go on a personal adventure.....whatever that means to you.
9. Never stop looking and appreciating wonderful things around you.
10. Create YOUR own story. 

Ok....so I loved all the tips. All of them!

Surprise Wedding :: Who does that!?!

When it comes to surprises, this one tops the list.

Proposals are always beautiful and usually a surprise but this is a surprise proposal and surprise wedding all in the same day. This groom used his brides Pinterest board to plan the wedding of her dreams for her. She almost didn't make it but she did and he pulled off the surprise of her lifetime. It was beautiful.

Since we're talking about surprise proposals, this one is still one of my all time favorites. It was beautifully done but one of my favorite photographers Ross Oscar Knight.

Unrealistic Perceptions of Beauty

Too skinny? Too fat? Nose too wide? Hair too thick? Hair too fine? Thighs too big? Or too skinny?

The grumbling and complaining just goes on and on. Women are continuously finding fault with their body. Here's the truth....you'll NEVER be prefect. Perfection only exists in magazines and those bodies are painted on. They're not real...NOT.EVEN.CLOSE to real.

The truth is that you are beautiful and finding the flattering angles and well fitting clothing make all the difference. I am not a size 2 anymore...in fact my size has a 1 in front of it....but I'm beautiful. Not Perfect, beautiful.

This 37 second video proves exactly why you shouldn't get all excited about the women in magazines. They've usually had a lot of work done...and by work I'm not talking about exercise.....nor plastic surgery....I'm talking about Photoshop.

         

This is what real beauty looks like. A woman with her hair done. Her make-up tastefully done. Great lighting. A good photographer. A genuine smile. That stuff above....is just depressing.

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Love is beautiful :: Stone Mountain Photographer

I think love is incredible. To think that a man and woman meet, talk, bond and fall madly in love is just simply amazing. To find someone that makes your heart smile, that makes your heart skip a beat is pretty awesome. Everyone deserves to find a love like that. Even on a cool day, you can lean in and snuggle up with your honey for some body heat. You like being in their space and they want you there. Love is beautiful. It's incredible. It's fantastic. It's indescribable.

 

Dahlia and Charles :: Eatonton Wedding :: Intimate things.

Everything was magazine perfect. The weather was cool, not too hot, not too cold. The estate was golf course green. The white picket fence, the long drive from the gate, the ripples on the lake, the ducks, the band playing as you walked up the steps, all made for a perfect wedding day for Dahlia and Charles. Their dearest friends and closest family stood by as they held hands, looking into each other's eyes, said "I do" and kissed. 

I enjoyed your wedding and I am honored that you chose me to create the art that will be a living legacy of the day you said "I do." 

God Bless, 

Pru