Everytime I attend a bridal show, it is the same old problem. Will Sheryl work the booth with me? Who else can I get to share the responsibilities of watching the booth and talking to prospective clients? Over the years, we’ve had some people who have helped out who were really good and other times they were not so good.

I kept thinking that it would be nice to find somebody who almost instinctively knew how to talk to prospective clients. Somebody who knows about open ended questions, proper body posture and the like. Basically somebody who knows the Disney Experience and share that excitement about wedding photography with a bride.

Over the years, I’ve lost touch with most of the castmembers I used to work with at the Oakbrook Disney Store. Furthermore, working with me at bridal shows is not a steady income but rather a way to provide a little extra cash around show season. A couple of weeks ago, I found this person but didn’t realize it. She is a former castmember. As I was driving to her house tonight to drop off a photo, I realized she was the answer to my problem.

When I arrived, my mind was made up, as part of the conversation, I tendered her a job offer. It should work out great with her other job. I’m not going to say any more until she decides if she accepts my offer. Either way, I’m excited to be expanding Magical Moments Photography by taking steps to add employees.

For weeks, no make that months, I’ve known I needed new business cards. However, I had been struggling and pondering the design. Nothing I tried seemed to work. I looked at many other business cards. I kept putting the project off. This morning I was visiting Indian Lakes where I photographed Jenna and Chris’ wedding a couple of weeks ago.

Once again I was asked for business cards but didn’t have many to give. I knew I needed to get new business cards but was dreading the design task. Then this afternoon BAM! An idea hit me out a clear blue sky. After about an hours worth of work, here’s what inspired me.

The last 6 months of 2006 look to keep me really busy. As you know on the personal front, Sheryl and I are expecting our third child, a boy, August 7. If he follows in his siblings footsteps he will be born on-time (Meghan) or a couple of weeks early (Mathew). If that is not enough to keep me busy, I have 15 weddings booked in 5 months with a few weeks off in early August for my son’s birth.

Now some of you may wonder what a photographer does when faced with the possibility of a personal life event when a wedding is scheduled. First, once I knew Sheyrl and I were expecting, I stopped booking weddings around her due date. Unfortunately, some weddings were booked almost a year in advanced, before we discovered Sheryl was pregnant. So, I have arranged for another fully qualified professional wedding photographer to assist me at my previously booked late July weddings. Should Sheryl go into labor while I’m at a wedding, I will turn the primary responsibilities over to the other photographer and goto the hospital. Otherwise, my clients will luck out and receive an extra professional photographer at no charge to them. See, I’ve got it all covered!

In the meantime, 2007 looks like a busier year than 2006. My bookings are already ahead of any previous years’ booking pace. So far this June, I’ve booked 3 weddings, been informed 2 more signed agreements are being sent to me and I will be meeting with several more potential clients in the next 2 weeks. So with that I would like to welcome as new Magical Moments Photography clients:

Cheryl and Mark
Laura and Brian
Sarah and Jeremy

It arrived! I’m now a certified professional wedding photographer. Just like accountants can become certified, so can professional photographers. In this day and age of fly by night wedding photographers and people who just decide to become a wedding photographer without any training, it is one way for the consumer to know they are hiring a properly trained professional.

Last year at the national Professional Photographers of America of convention, I took a certification test. This test is administered by the same folks who give the bar exam and the CPA exam, among others. For me, passing the test was the easy part. The tough part is submitting photos from 20 events over the last two years to be judged by a group of photography experts. After all of that, I became a Certified Professional Photographer.

The Wedding endorsement is like a doctor specializing in a specific branch of medicine such as heart surgery or internal medicine. To earn the Wedding endorsement, I needed to submit photos from another 10 events over the last year to be judged by the photography jury. I understand a higher standard is used. Finally, unlike a college degree that once it is earned you keep it forever, the Certified Professional Wedding Photographer must take continuing education classes each year to maintain the certification/endorsement status. Most importantly the Certification commission is an independent body where consumers can verify the status of the certified photographer.

I just received word from one of my clients that unfortunately the wedding is off. I’d like to be the nice guy. So even though my agreement says “no refunds”, should I manage to rebook a wedding for that weekend for the same or more expensive package than had previously been booked, I’ll provide a refund minus the administrative costs. Therefore, if you or anybody you know is still looking for a wedding photographer for Memorial Day weekend (May 26-29), please contact me.

Other upcoming 2006 weekends which I still have available are:

May 12-14
June 9-11
June 16-18
July 21-23

As these dates are fast approaching, a special gift will be given to the people who book those dates.