Decisive Moment Photojournalism

Our biggest holiday promotion ever!

2009-10-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

We're pulling out all the stops this year for our most comprehensive end-of-year sale. It's a three-parter:

1. $495 Albums! Our gorgeous leather books have never been priced so low. Get an 8x10 book with leather cover and 32 images in a gallery-style layout for only $495, and we speed up production so it arrives in time for Christmas. Email or call 419.243.2111 to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

2. BOGO Prints! Buy one, get one free!

If we photographed you in the last few years, your portraits or wedding photos have been made available for purchase at www.dmomentbooks.com - use the promotional code DOUBLES and we'll double your print order for free until 10/31/09. This is the perfect chance to finish up your collection of photos and get holiday gifts for free. Remember, we personally retouch every print you order online.

3. $50 family portraits and free rush shipping on our NEW holiday cards! Come to our annual portrait party on Sunday, November 1, for a $50 portrait session and use the promotional code FREESHIP75 for free, quick shipping on your holiday cards, or any order over $75. Email or call 419.243.2111 to set up your portrait session.

The fine print:

Album credit may not be used toward these special offers. Discounts and special prices are available for a limited time only. Conditions apply to the album special.

How could anyone forget Penny?

2009-03-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

These were some of my faves from the whole shoot!

Penny, the keeshond. She's a very happy girl.

Click to enlarge.

Loo-uh-ville was lovely!

2009-03-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

Don't call it "Louie-ville" -- it's "Loo-uh-ville". I learned the proper pronunciation over the weekend. I met some wonderful dogs, cats, and people, and enjoyed bulgogi at the fantastic Ramsi's Cafe on the World. I haven't visited a prettier city in a while.

Three Dog Bakery was the perfect location for the shoot, thanks again to owner Shelby for being so gracious. The sweet, scruffy terrier mix below is Truman, to whom Shelby belongs.

Click on any photo to enlarge, as usual!

Erin & Bill are engaged!

2009-03-25T10:05:00.001-07:00

We thought these two were the cutest couple we'd seen this week. They even stand cute!

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Pet portraits in Louisville, KY!

2009-03-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

We'll be photographing dogs, cats, and their people in Louisville on Saturday, March 28. A portion of profits will benefit WAGS, a group that does some wonderful and important work in Louisville. Registration is now open - it looks like our day is filling up already!

We'll be shooting at the super fun Three Dog Bakery, so your pet can spend his or her allowance on some yummy treats before your session, and you can check out all the cool merchandise and duds they sell.

Click here to see more of our pet portraits (or just scroll down and check out our recent blog entries) and click here to register for your session!

Click on flier to enlarge

Burgess and Nikki (and family)

2009-02-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of meeting the adorable Newfie, Burgess, and the super cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Nikki, and their parents today. There was plenty of peanut butter and Tony Packo's to go around and a good time was had by all.

Here are just my favorites. Click on any image to enlarge.

Jill and Terrence's Wedding

2009-02-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

Jill and Terrence got married at St. Pat's Historic downtown, and had a luxe tent reception at Belmont Country Club.

There are too many fantastic details to describe, but the checkerboard dance floor photographed particularly well. We recently heard several of these photos will be featured in The Knot Weddings magazine.

Click here for the slideshow!

Pam and Tom

2009-02-25T21:01:00.001-08:00

Pam and Tom are an awfully cute couple, who came downtown to see us on a very cold day. They must be great models, because they don't look chilly at all.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Rose and Evan's Engagement Session!

2009-02-20T14:50:00.001-08:00

Rose and Evan came in for a quick photo shoot today - it was quicker than usual because of the cold weather.

You can see the winter light makes for some gorgeous photos though! Click on any photo to enlarge.

This last little vignette is my favorite - it's the elevator in our building, a DMP exclusive backdrop!

Valentine's Day Portrait Party!

2009-02-09T18:35:00.000-08:00

We're hosting a huge Valentine's Portrait Party on Saturday and Sunday, February 14-15. Featuring our awesome "blank slate" backdrop and DMP's signature, laid-back approach.

Click here to hold your spot, and choose a date and time block. We'll email you back with a specific appointment time. We're only doing a limited number of sessions, and this price is too good to last.

$99 includes:

• a 30 minute photo session with our "blank slate" white backdrop. Bring your spouse, your mom, your kids, your dog, and whatever props you like - if it's legal, bring it.

• online proofing

• a $25 gift card toward prints

If you think you have too many ideas for 30 minutes, go ahead and book more than one session!

Bring anyone or anything, just sign up now. Click here to register.

Here are a few of our recent sessions:

A Boy and His Dog
Unique Family Portraits
Just the Pooches
Newlyweds
Maternity Portraits

April, Peter, and the pups

2009-01-27T16:56:00.001-08:00

Click on photo to enlarge

Our wonderful friends, April and Pete, came in with their "kids" for a quick photo today.

Aren't they the cutest couple?

Karrie and Joe!

2008-12-23T21:21:00.001-08:00

Just a few favorite photos from Karrie and Joe's fabulously vintage wedding. Joseph did a great job covering it, and I'm truly sorry I couldn't be there. It looks like a blast was had by all (especially those crazy guests in the fourth photo, past and future clients of ours, and... Alex).

Click any photo to enlarge.

Jodi & Daniel downtown

2008-12-16T12:00:00.001-08:00

I love this photo, we just left the reception for five minutes when the light was perfect.

Sorry I can't chat more, we're buried in Christmas orders and we refuse to disappoint anyone!

Our house on HGTV

2008-12-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

Many of my readers already know HGTV sent a crew out to shoot Joe's and my house (that we bought four years ago and renovated ourselves) in June 2007. We've been waiting ever so patiently to see the results, on their show, What You Get for the Money.

I finally heard from the producers that our episode will be airing this winter, sometime from January-early March, and that's the most I could get out of them. I'll let you know as soon as we have a date!

Yes, that is our house pictured, but it doesn't look that good right now.

I love being a photographer

2008-12-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's a tough job, but usually I just love it. Today, we're shooting Cake in a Cup cupcakes in the studio. Glamour shots of fantastic desserts. I may have to do some tasting to get inspired.

Saturday, we have pets and families coming to the studio for our Portrait Party (still a few spots available, by the way, click here to sign up!), and Sunday we're at Sylvania Vet for 80 or more pet portraits with Santa (click here for more info).

Lauren and Eric's album!

2008-12-10T15:46:00.000-08:00

We've been far too busy making albums lately to show you any! I guess it's good to be so busy right now, in this unpredictable economy, but I am looking forward to our Christmas break.

Here's a beautiful couple who got married at one of our very favorite venues, Nazareth Hall - click here to see the whole album.

Happy Holidays!

2008-11-30T17:48:00.000-08:00

We've got a new office tree this year, and we're feeling pretty festive! Good thing the office is so pretty - we have a lot of work to do this month.

All of my readers and our clients are invited to the Davis Building Holiday Open House on December 4, from 6-8 p.m. It's a rockin' party, with food and drink and all sorts of fun. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

My favorite family photo ever

2008-11-21T15:04:00.001-08:00

This is my favorite family photo ever. It's just full of... personality. The two older girls chose their own outfits, complete with magic wands, and the baby is shoving pink, strawberry-flavored marshmallows into her mouth. This is my sister and her husband and daughters.

We're planning a huge Portrait Party (for pets, families, babies, actors, musicians, whatever) on Saturday, December 13. $150 gets you a studio session, and $50 toward prints. It's not too late for Christmas cards, either! Give us a call or email to get on the schedule.

Pet portraits with Santa!

2008-11-20T17:14:00.000-08:00

We'll be in Sylvania, Ohio in a couple weeks, doing very affordable pet portraits with Santa. Last year, Santa got growled at and peed on, but he handled it with aplomb. This may well be the funnest shoot of the year, last year we photographed more than 80 pets in four hours!

Click on the photo for more info, and I promise one of the pooches pictured will make you smile.

Oh, and a chunk of the proceeds go to charity, so you can give while you get some great photos.

They love me in Texas!

2008-11-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

I'm doing a huge pet portrait shoot this weekend in Dallas (on Saturday) and Houston (on Sunday), and I'm almost booked solid in Houston.

For more details, scroll down a few entries, and to sign up, go to dmomentbooks.com

I live on my bike...

2008-11-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

Those are lyrics from the song Joe made up to keep us going on our 43-mile bike ride a couple weeks ago. Yes, that's 43 miles in one go, our first ride that long. It was an organized tour that was supposed to be 38 miles, but we got lost. :)

You'll notice we're not looking our best here, but check out the helmets and bright colors for safety. We may not look good, but at least you can't miss us!

Moby, the great white pit bull

2008-11-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

We at DMP love pit bulls. We find them to be the smartest, sweetest, snuggliest dogs.

Check out this baby with the heart-shaped nose, who was checking my hand for treats, and please click on either photo to enlarge that sweet face. Click here for more info on this breed, and the common misconceptions that go along with it.

We're in Atlanta and Charleston this weekend, Dallas and Houston next weekend, as part of our Pet Portrait Tour. We do pet portraits in Toledo, too, just give us a call.

BOGO Print Sale begins today!

2008-11-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

Oh yes, because we're in a very good mood today...

Buy one, get one free, no matter how many prints you order! There is no minimum and no limit.

When you buy photos from dmomentbooks.com, and use the code "BOGO" in the "additional comments" section of your order, we will automatically include doubles of everything you order.

This offer is only good for orders placed from 11/5-11/20, and we can't accept album credit as payment. We must ship doubles to the same address.

Click here to buy one, get one free!

Special promotion! Today only!

2008-11-04T10:12:00.001-08:00

A free, virtual pat on the back to all VOTERS today. Go vote, comment, and I'll tell you that you rock! :) You don't even have to vote the way I want you to.

(But, Toledoans, consider bringing back COSI because it really helped downtown and my nieces miss it terribly)

Benny's okay!

2008-10-29T18:10:00.001-07:00

My sweet, old dog healed up on his own (with the help of Michigan Veterinary Specialists and meds given 15x a day)!

Unfortunately, we're having some technical difficulties with our online proofing system, so some wedding galleries may not be available for the next 24 hours. Please don't be alarmed, we'll be back tomorrow by midnight.

Benny's still okay

2008-10-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

Benny (my dog) has been to the specialist several times now, but he appears to be healing pretty well on his own. We're not out of the woods yet, so please keep the thoughts and prayers coming. And thank you all very much for thinking of my fella.

Joe took us down the street for a few portraits the other day, I thought I'd share them with you. Didn't he do just a lovely job?

Benny, my BFF

2008-10-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've been a terrible blogger lately, I promise I'll get back on track soon... we've been busy with my best friend, Benny, a 15-year old mutt that I adopted forever ago. He's very spunky and youthful, but he's only got one eye and it was injured last week.

We've been to see a canine ophthalmologist (who knew they even had those?) and we've got a plan that involves surgery early next week. We should be able to save his sight, but there will be a lot of work and worry for us.

If you're the praying type, please put in a good word for Benny. He's the coolest dog in the world. I'll be sure to keep you updated.

My newest acquisition

2008-10-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

I'm still making dog and cat collars in all my free time, and I've sold enough to buy myself some fancy new Gingher thread-snipping scissors. There's a lot of detail work that goes into making tiny collars, so a good pair of scissors is important.

These are beautiful and precise. They're made in the US by a 50+ year old company. My mother has their fabric shears and has enjoyed them for years.

If you love good tools, check Gingher out.

Who has an eternity band?

2008-10-09T13:34:00.001-07:00

I love the look of these and want something small and simple that I don't have to baby. I'd love to hear about yours, whether you like it or not!

(Joe, remember, our anniversary is next month. And I like white gold.)

I couldn't resist

2008-10-09T12:31:00.001-07:00

Keep calm and carry on

2008-10-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

I must have this print I found in the etsy shop blulima. It's an important sentiment in these trying times, no?

I'm still selling my own handmade dog and cat collars on etsy, and adding 25 more this week. Tiny collars, small collars, and new big dog collars, just in time for Christmas. A percentage of proceeds from the big collars will go to a shelter, so it's a two-fer!

If you haven't seen this

2008-10-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

...you really should. No matter which side you're on, be sure to register to vote, and then go do it! I'm proud to say I've voted in every presidential election since I turned 18 - which if you listen to me is only a couple because I don't always tell the truth about my age. ;)

Anyway, I really enjoyed this star-studded video, it's very well-made.

Sonic boom

2008-09-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, Toledo has a Sonic. A big thank you to my friend Michelle, without whom I would get no local news.

We had to try it, and it was fun, but I don't think I'll be back. I'd rather not eat in my car and though the food was good, it's not something I need more of in my diet. The Cherry Limeade was fantastic. Maybe we'll go back for beverages...

I have a new hobby

2008-09-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

I am sorry I've been such a bad blogger, I fell in love with a new hobby and it's been taking up all my time off (all 2 hours of it per day!).

I'm making dog and cat collars! It's really fun and relaxing, and my collars are much prettier and more durable than what I can find in stores.

Check them out here!

Chihuahuas are dangerous!

2008-09-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

My chihuahuas are always cold. And they have a penchant for burrowing under covers, pillows, or piles of clothing. I darn near killed one of mine, flopping on the bed this morning.

I've been busy with a new project, I'll have photos for you later this week.

Bunnies! (and a couple guinea pigs)

2008-09-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

Joe and I got a chance last night to go meet a whole bunch of rescue bunnies, so we brought a camera.

Can you believe these guys are currently "between homes"? They're gorgeous, well-mannered, and really funny. Most bunnies are easily litter-trained, they're quiet, easy to take care of, and snuggly little pets. If you're looking to adopt, let us know and we can put you in touch with the rescue group in charge of these muffins. Or just check Petfinder, and search for rabbits in your area!

Here's an FAQ on rabbits as pets.

Pet Portrait Tour 2008 is underway!

2008-09-17T10:50:00.001-07:00

We have our first tour dates:

Birmingham, AL on October 18 and 19
Dallas, TX on November 15
Houston, TX on November 16

I will be offering a few private sessions on-location (at your home or the dog park) in Birmingham, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston. Give us a call if you're interested!

Click on image (below) to enlarge

40 mpg

2008-09-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

I have always been a fan of small dogs and small cars. Everyone scoffed at my cute little Geo Metro in college, but I didn't care, because I got more than 50 mpg. Back then, gas was as low as a dollar a gallon (yes, kids, it's true!) so I could get to Detroit and back for a couple of bucks.

Now, I drive the smallest car I could find, the Toyota Echo, and it gets about 40 mpg, which is better than many hybrids! I love being able to maneuver into the smallest parking space and do a u-turn in two lanes.

The only time my car presents a problem is when a bride and groom get accidentally left somewhere with no ride. But more than once, my clients have squeezed into the trusty Echo. Here is a photo of poor Melisa and Derek, who didn't have a lot of extra room. But they look happy, right?

We love to travel

2008-09-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

We love our usual NW Ohio and SE Michigan wedding venues, but we really love to travel for weddings.

Here's Micah and Tim at Put-In-Bay Island. Just an hour away, but still a destination wedding! You have to click on these to enlarge, especially the one in the middle.

Carly and Rob @ School

2008-09-09T09:39:00.001-07:00

We so enjoy helping our clients get creative with their posed portraits. I thought this was a wonderful collaboration between Carly (the bride), Rob (the groom), and Joseph (the photographer). Oh, and a $10 DMP gift card for the first commenter who correctly guesses Carly's occupation.

This one is my fave:

Click on any photo to enlarge!

Is this not

2008-09-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Is this not the cutest thing you've seen all day? Finn, the German shepherd pup, is up for adoption, along with his three darling sisters. They were saved at the very last minute (literally) from being put to sleep in a shelter.

I just want to smooch that funny face!

Photo by my friend and Finn's foster mom, Michelle

September!

2008-08-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for fall since... well, winter! I am crazy-excited about the light, the leaves, and the smells that come with the season.

For you today, a special treat. One of my favorite songs, just as fresh today as it was in 1978, and my best fall recipe. You cannot have a bad day if you have some pumpkin butter on a toasted english muffin (also great in yogurt, or atop ice cream). It will also make your house smell amazing, and your spouse very impressed.

Pumpkin Butter

One 29-ounce can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1+1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup mild honey
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
3/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

Dump all the ingredients into a slow cooker and stir until well mixed. Don't worry about lumps of sugar, they'll melt into the butter during cooking. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the pot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Remove the lid and let cook on HIGH for an additional 30-60 minutes to reach the desired thickness.

Turn off the cooker and let the pumpkin butter cool to room temperature in the pot. Scrape with your spatula into jars or other air-tight containers. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks, or freeze (in plastic containers) for up to 3 months.

I often make a double batch in my big slow cooker, saving half for myself and giving the rest as gifts.

September - Earth Wind & Fire

Also, click here for a music video that will crack you the heck up.

The canvases are going fast!

2008-08-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

We already have orders for four canvases, and I expect more over the weekend. If you know you want one, get your order in soon!

I think this photo would look gorgeous on canvas... Best wishes to Sean and Leslie, who are celebrating this weekend at the Pinnacle, where they're having their at-home reception!

(Most of the photos of the Pinnacle and Central Park West are by DMP!)

Ooh! New art canvases on SALE!

2008-08-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Click on photos to see the texture of the canvas.

We just chose a new supplier for our art canvases, and we're really excited about them. We're offering a special price on 16x20 single-image canvases right now - only $195 (regular price: $350).

For a limited time only, $195 includes your favorite photo, printed directly onto canvas, which is then wrapped around thick (1.5") wooden stretcher bars, ready to display. Even the hanging hardware is included. We ordered three canvases for the studio and they're so beautiful I wanted everyone to have one.

Each canvas is treated with a UV-protective coating, the inks are archival, and rated not to fade under normal lighting conditions for 100 years. You can choose a black and white or color image (I prefer b&w), and the price includes simple retouching.

These make a great anniversary, birthday, or holiday gift. Call us at 419.243.2111, email, or comment here to order!

The fine print: Orders take 2-4 weeks to arrive in the studio. We can't do more than ten canvases at this price, so I can't say how long the offer will be good. Sorry, we won't be able to accept album credit for canvases.

Our "scene setters"

2008-08-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

We spend a little time at each wedding photographing what we call "scene setters" - images that don't focus on people, but on things that help tell the story of the wedding day.

We love to document all the little details that the couple have spent time on, as well as the things they didn't even know would happen that add to the character of the day.

Here are two of my favorite scene setters from this year, photographed by Joe at Ashleigh and Jim's wedding. Don't these photos make you want to go to this party?

Click on any photo to enlarge

Michelle and Greg's fantastic flat

2008-08-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

Wow! Proof that you can live well in Toledo. Check out this amazing abode that Greg and Michelle built almost from scratch.

I am just crazy for the wall-sized mural that Michelle painted - and she may be convinced to take commissions.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

My new chair is hiding...

2008-08-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Can you find it? I had my comfy old office chair reupholstered by my favorite upholstery shop, so it matches the new office. I love it.

In the Toledo/Detroit area, you must call Lucarelli for your upholstery needs. A very old-school business, their service and attention to detail are fantastic, and they've never let us down.

What the french, toast?

2008-08-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

I had an extra few minutes yesterday (our "weekend" is Sunday and Monday, because we work Saturdays), so I made some french toast. I added vanilla and sugar to the batter, so it carmelized nicely.

Check out those Michigan blueberries, too! And the real Canadian bacon, not "Canadian-style" bacon.

Also, food photography is hard.

Sarah and Jason

2008-08-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Sarah and Jason had a gorgeous wedding, and we have an equally gorgeous album to go with it. Click here to see.

Melanie under her veil

2008-08-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

This wasn't actually a blusher, it was just so pretty when the bridesmaids were adjusting the veil that I had to get a shot.

If I have another wedding (to Joe, of course!), I'm definitely doing a veil.

Doesn't my dog look like Dobby?

2008-08-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Dobby (from Harry Potter) on the left, Pablo on the right.

Click on image to enlarge.

Congrats to Katie and Leon!

2008-08-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Many of our DMP brides and grooms are having beautiful babies, but this fella's mommy is my BFF and college roommate. Congrats, you two! I am already calling him LT, and he can call me Aunt Bridget. ;)

I love Glendale Flowers and Gifts

2008-08-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

Whenever we want to make a statement, we send flowers from Glendale.

Check out this amazing "tablecloth" they lent us for our dining room, as well as the gorgeous centerpiece. Those are real leaves, all individually glued to kraft paper! You can see lots more of our house (and Glendale's work) on HGTV in January, I'll keep you posted.

400!

2008-08-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Remember how I was going to ride 1000 miles this summer on my new bike? Well, I got a little too busy to do it all this summer, but I've set a new goal to finish it by the end of the year.

Over the weekend I hit 400!

I found out

2008-08-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

toothpastefordinner.com

Answer: It just doesn't toast very well. :(

Keeping things simple

2008-08-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

My life is pretty complicated - almost everything I do is "from scratch". Joe and I are so DIY that we made our own jobs, renovated our own house, we even move most of our daily miles by our own power (on bikes). I receive and reply to about 50 emails a day, and I have a lot of pets to look after.

Because of this, I like to keep the simple things simple. I have four keys, five phone numbers in my phone, and one color of clothing (if you've met me, you'll know what color this is!). I'm big on lists, especially for groceries or packing, so I don't have to re-invent the wheel every time I shop or travel.

What do you do to keep things simple? I'm looking for ideas!

Having my own business (a weekly feature)

2008-08-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

Three reasons I think having my own business is wonderful:

1. I don't have to wear shoes at the office (I do for meetings, don't worry!)

2. Nobody steals my lunch out of the fridge

3. Every day is Bring Your Dog to Work Day (Heidi, pictured above, has her backpack on, ready to go)

Vendor meals: a dirty secret of the wedding biz

2008-08-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

For our wedding reception, Joe and I made it a point to order meals for all of our vendors. Some of them were there all day, most working much harder than we were, and we felt they deserved a good, hot meal for dinner. We knew there's very little for most of the vendors to do while the guests are eating anyway, and we were grateful to have some of the best wedding professionals Ohio had to offer.

Almost all of our clients treat us to a lovely dinner, which we appreciate. It allows us to stay close to the bride and groom, so we don't miss any impromptu toasts or presentations during dinner, and it keeps our energy up, helping us do our best work.

Occasionally, we'll be surprised by a "vendor meal". Once, we got a loaf of Wonder Bread and some baloney, except the band ate most of the baloney before we got to it. Due to food allergies/intolerances, the risk of food poisoning, and, um, the yuckiness of baloney, we'd rather bring our own lunch than partake of most vendor meals.

Since I'm a bit of a foodie, I thought I might start reviewing the meals we have at weddings - I can photograph them, too! Is anybody interested?

Ooh, an UPDATE! Someone else beat me to the subject! Click here to see a rather unappealing vendor meal.

For sale!

2008-08-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

When Joe and I got married, ages ago (actually it's only been 5 years), none of the rental houses in town had martini glasses, so we bought our own. We've been cleaning out the closets, and have 58 of these beauties, used only once, for sale for $95.

I thought some of our brides or fellow vendors might be interested! Just comment here, or email us.

Nicole and Joe at Toledo Country Club

2008-08-12T13:49:00.001-07:00

Here's an adorable couple, married just three days ago, at Toledo Country Club (TCC). What struck me most about them was that they just seemed to really enjoy each other a lot.

All the details were attended to by Linda and the staff at TCC.

The flowers, by Kircher's, were very cool.

Decorative Sound, as always, did a lovely job keeping the party going.

Click on any photo to enlarge!

And check out this guest book - guests wrote their names and wishes for the couple on stones!

WDYT about cilantro?

2008-08-12T08:37:00.001-07:00

This post on one of my favorite cooking blogs got me thinking about cilantro. I have noticed that you either love it or hate it. Joe and I both love it, but Mimzy the office bunny isn't a fan.

Here are some people with too much time on their hands - the site is ihatecilantro.com, and they've got a pie chart of what their members think cilantro tastes like.

Rachel and Sandy

2008-08-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Rachel and Sandy got married at St. Joe's Sylvania (where my Joe grew up, actually!) and had a very elegant reception at the Toledo Club. These two are so sweet together, just look at their expressions in the photos, you can tell they're really in love.

Click here to see the slideshow.

Nice shootin', Joe!

Tomorrow's supper: Posh Pizza

2008-08-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

Today we're all over Detroit, but tomorrow I'm making this for supper. I rarely find myself in the position of having too much prosciutto, but this week I do!

I will use regular crust, though, here's my favorite recipe, or Trader Joe's pizza dough if I'm in a hurry. Oh, and I'm working some gorgonzola in there instead of the créme fraiche.

Don't you love British recipes, with all the grams and rocket and such?

I'm mad at Rachael Ray

2008-08-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know most of my foodie friends probably aren't fans of hers, but we've been trying to eat at home more, and I needed some new ideas for fast meals. The library had a wealth of Rachael Ray literature, so I checked some out.

From one of the 30-Minute Meals books, I chose the Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms for dinner last night. Because I'm a skeptic, I timed myself - I'm not an inexperienced cook, but it took me no less than 60 minutes to get these things in the oven, and I believe I dirtied every dish in the house in the process.

The end result was pretty good, but next time I'll use smaller mushrooms*, increase the amount of garlic, salt the stuffing, and add more cheese to hold it all together. Oh, I'll also use the Cuisinart, instead of making my sous chef (Joe) painstakingly chop up all the veggies. I thought about it, but the original recipe didn't mention the food processor, so I worried it would puree everything too much.

Interestingly, the online recipe does call for more garlic and cheese, as well as the food processor.

*Or I might skip the mushrooms and just put the stuffing on toasted, buttered bread, like we did with our leftovers. That was much less messy to eat and very good. Then I could call the recipe Non-Stuffed Non-Mushrooms, which is kinda fun.

McNugget of Wisdom

2008-08-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

So I had just ordered the McSkillet Burritos for our breakfast meeting this morning and I handed the company card to the cashier. She looked at it and said, "you have your own business?"

I replied that I do, and she said, "that's really wonderful!"

When I'm all caught up in the crazy busy-ness of business, dealing with tech problems and vendors who disappoint us, packing cases for weddings, and answering emails, I forget that it really is wonderful to have your own business. I think I should hire the McDonald's cashier to come to the office and be our cheerleader. Ooh, and she can bring breakfast, too!

LOL

2008-08-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

I find the acronym "LOL" frustrating, because I doubt people are really laughing out loud. I did, however, when I saw this blog.

We had this in Jamaica

2008-08-06T11:35:00.001-07:00

It's cucumber juice! We enjoyed the beach and the weather, but the resort food got a little old, so we snuck off to a real Jamaican restaurant and tried some things we had never seen before.

Check out the recipe at the kitchn

J is for...

2008-08-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

I'm jonesing for some of these letters from Urban Outfitters.

"Hidden" fat and calories

2008-08-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a fascinating article exposing some of the dirty secrets restaurants "don't want you to know".

I love stuff like this. It's fun to ruin people's (namely, Joe's) dinner by saying, "do you know there are three days' worth of calories in that?"

Thanks to my ex-boyfriend for the link. I agree with him that the people who care probably know they should be staying away from these foods, but even when I'm carefully watching calories, I'll occasionally splurge and need to know how much damage I'm doing.

New logo

2008-08-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

We've been using "good enough" logos for years, now we finally have one that says something about us.

Here's just a sneak peek, we're releasing it soon!

Weddings at Inverness Club

2008-08-02T16:28:00.001-07:00

We love working at Inverness (even in the kitchen!), and are offering a special gift now for new bookings at Inverness. Here are some photos from Liz and David's wedding that show off the club.

Click to enlarge!

Flowers by Glendale Flowers and Gifts, of course.

Gift of the Month!

2008-07-31T14:04:00.001-07:00

Be the first person to book a Partner Package in the month of August and mention the Lush gift, and WIN this fantastic and yummy box. A $64 value.

The Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink gift box from Lush.

Us in Chicago

2008-07-31T12:27:00.001-07:00

I am loath to hand my camera over to someone else, so we take our own pictures! This is our reflection in Cloud Gate.

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Party at Parkway Place

2008-07-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge

I love these photos of everyone gettin' down at Parkway Place. Aren't they super fun?

Chicago

2008-07-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

Well, we spent 36 hours in the Windy City and did more than I have ever done in a day off before. Today, we:

1. were woken up early by my niece (we'll call her K.)
2. went swimming in the hotel pool
3. got room service pancakes and waffles
4. drove into the city and paid $25 for parking
5. went to Navy Pier (what? We had a kid with us!)
6. rode the carousel, gawked at the Ferris Wheel, ambled through the Crystal Gardens, and bought some souvenirs
7. hopped on the wrong trolley, got lost
8. rode the subway (K.'s 7, she gets a kick out of this)
9. got lunch at Foodlife and had crepes for dessert
10. went to the Hancock building
11. learned that tickets to the observation deck were $15 per person
12. scammed our way into the bar on the 95th floor, which is actually two stories higher than the observation deck. This was my niece's first bar.
13. got cocktails - two with vodka, one without, all for less than the cost of tickets to the observation deck. Also, my niece's first cocktail. If you stop by, check out the women's restroom which has an amazing view. People were actually taking pictures! Joe reports that the men's room was a disappointment.
14. designed K.'s Tower, our own Tallest Building in Chicago on the cocktail napkin (yes, I know the Hancock is the second tallest building in Chicago)
15. more souvenir shopping
16. visited the wonderful Millenium Park, got spat upon and completely soaked by the public art (you must see this if you haven't already, it's the best art ever), played under and photographed the Bean (which is actually called Cloud Gate), and were treated to a free outdoor concert at the gorgeous Jay Pritzker Pavilion, which was designed by Frank Gehry.
17. rode in a cab (now if only we could've ridden a bus, my niece's day would've been made)
18. changed into swimsuits in the car
19. went to the beach, where we swam and played in the sand
20. got dinner back at Navy Pier

We also filled up our compact flash card and will have pictures to share soon.

I'm a stylish platform bed!

2008-07-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

I have always been a fan of IKEA, in college I loved their furniture, now I love their 50-cent hot dogs, so as soon as I got the chance, I had to see what my IKEA product name would be.

Get yours here and be sure to share!

Off to Chi-town!

2008-07-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

Joe and I worked hard all weekend so we could take our 7-year old niece to Chicago. We'll be out of the office Monday, Tuesday, and part of Wednesday, but we'll be available via email. We'll be working on the road (thanks to Verizon Wireless Broadband), so if you need us, just drop us a line!

Finally! The new office is done!

2008-07-24T11:36:00.001-07:00

We're a few weeks behind schedule, and still waiting on our vinyl signage and awnings, but everything else is done!

Here are the before pics, taken with my purse point-and-shoot, just to help us remember the space while we were office shopping:

Here's the table we asked the landlord to leave in the office (click on the photo to enlarge). I refinished it and now it looks fantastic!

These shelves were a pain to remove. They were attached with 98 screws, so I had a lot of patching to do. We ended up resurfacing the whole wall with drywall joint compound, then priming and re-painting, even though we wanted to keep the color.

And the after!

2008-07-24T11:35:00.001-07:00

Click on any photo to enlarge - they look better big!

I love the exposed brick.

Isn't the chandelier fun? Joe hung it. That's the wall that used to have the glass shelves.

There's an office bunny in this photo - can you find her? You can also see the refinished table.

This is our shooting space, we hang backdrops over the mirror. Oh, and that's me.

A closeup of the chandelier

And the bunny. The stone step was here when we moved in, but we couldn't cut our floor planks perfectly around the curve, so we filled the space in with a stone/ceramic mosaic. Joe spent hours fitting all these tiny pieces together! We still have to grout it.

Lindsay and Charles

2008-07-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

We love shooting at St. Pat's Historic and the Toledo Hilton. Here is a gorgeous wedding, both the bride and groom are veterinarians, which explains the dog-shaped ice sculpture.

Click here to see!

My hair smells really delicious

2008-07-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

Honestly. I've been using Philosophy's 3-in-1 products (you can use them as a shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath) as shampoo for years, and I just change up the "flavors" whenever I run out. Right now, I'm on Belgian Waffles and it's just amazing. I like Red Velvet Cake in the winter, Pumpkin Pie for fall, and Señorita Margarita on vacation.

I don't know much about hair, but my stylist assures me mine's in great shape. The only problem is, I'm hungry all the time!

Ooooh! We're famous!

2008-07-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

There are so few products and services that have not disappointed me lately, I like to compliment the people and companies that make my life easier.

I sent an email and a photo to the creators of the Shootsac, a new camera bag that's really changed the way we shoot, and they posted it on their blog! Click here to see!

Joe's Shootsac is plain black, but I like to fancy mine up with pretty covers. I have this one now, and I'd love this one, if anyone feels like buying me a way-too-expensive gift.

Too hot to cook?

2008-07-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

In northern Ohio, 85 degrees is too hot to cook. It blew my mind how the bulk of the Jamaican diet is made up of stews, curries, and slow-cooked jerk meats. In that kind of heat, Ohioans and Michiganders would only eat salads and sandwiches!

This list of 101 quick summer meals is my go-to guide when I don't feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen, and the idea of firing up the oven is anathema. I often forget how good simple food can be, and the list is a great reminder.

Here are just a few favorites:

Pan-grill a skirt steak for three or four minutes a side. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, slice and serve over romaine or any other green salad, drizzled with olive oil and lemon.

Boil a lobster. Serve with lemon or melted butter. (This is my favorite meal in the world, btw.)

Slice or chop salami, corned beef or kielbasa and warm in a little oil; stir in eggs and scramble. Serve with mustard and rye bread.

Grill or sauté Italian sausage and serve over store-bought hummus, with lemon wedges.

Boil-and-eat shrimp, cooked in water with Old Bay seasoning or a mixture of thyme, garlic, paprika, chopped onion, celery, chili, salt and pepper.

Combine crab meat with mayo, Dijon mustard, chives and tarragon. Serve in a sandwich, with potato chips.

Pit and chop a cup or more of mixed olives. Combine with olive oil, a little minced garlic, red pepper flakes and chopped basil or parsley. Serve over pasta.

Making your own cards

2008-07-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

I just made this thank you cards for our vet - he gave us a fantastic deal on some care Pixie (our foster dog) needed. If you want just one card, KodakGallery will make it, for as little as $1.59.

Front:

Back:

The family biz

2008-07-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

Did you know that DMP is a family business? I (Bridget) got things started, and Brenna (my sister) and Joe (my husband) joined me shortly after. I took my first photography class because my mother loved photography so much, and my father's always been interested in the art. I'll never forget my baby brother running around with his Fisher Price video camera - it actually worked!

In fact, there is another family member who is considering joining the family biz in his spare time. I can't say who, but I can say he would be an awesome addition to the company. And I can tell you it's not my brother. ;)

The drawing above looks remarkably like my family, except the youngest should be a boy.

More on the Pet Portrait Tour

2008-07-17T19:01:00.001-07:00

Here's the flier, now we just have to set dates!

Click on the image to enlarge, or else you can't read it!

Leslie and Sean in Jamaica

2008-07-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

Leslie and Sean got married in Jamaica, and brought us along for the ride. I'm so glad we have these amazing photos to remember our trip - they're much more fun than the sea urchin spines in poor Joe's foot!

Click here to see!

Let them eat cake

2008-07-16T17:32:00.001-07:00

As wedding photographers, we eat a lot of cake. All wedding cake is good, but some is exceptional.

I was talking cake with a bride tonight, and thought this warranted a blog entry. My picks in the Toledo area...

Richest, Most Intense Cake if You're Not on a Budget:

Zingermans! Check out this deli/bakery in Ann Arbor and you'll love me for recommending it. Joe and I begged them to make our wedding cake (the Hunka Burnin' Love flavor), which I believe was their first, but now they're doing it all the time. It's not as expensive as it may seem either, because their serving size is much larger than the average. We had months' worth of leftover cake from our wedding, which froze well.

Best Cake in Ohio:

Myles Baker Street! Ever since I met Meredith Myles, co-owner of Myles Baker Street, at her own wedding, and tasted her wedding cake, I've been a fan. Joe and I drive to Bowling Green a couple times a month, just to sample the latest treats at Myles Baker Street. I gather that while it's easy to make a pretty cake, it's hard to make a gorgeous cake that tastes amazing. This is a small, family business, and their prices are very reasonable.

Best Cupcakes:

Cake in a Cup! I've blogged about these guys before, but like their cupcakes, one is not enough. If you're thinking about cupcakes for your wedding, check out their amazing, modern cake stand. We got a peek at it the last time we were in the shop, um, testing different flavors. It's all part of the job.

Now if I left anyone out, please just send us some cake and we'll consider it for our next awards post.

Ooh! Wendy and Cliff online!

2008-07-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

The story from The Knot: Ohio is online, with more photos. Check it out here!

Leslie and Sean in Jamaica

2008-07-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

I looove this one, but there are plenty more to come! Stay tuned!

Click to enlarge.

Before and after

2008-07-11T15:54:00.001-07:00

One of the things that makes Decisive Moment so different is that we personally retouch every image our clients choose for their albums and prints. We do this ourselves, in our studio, rather than outsourcing the work (we're control freaks about this stuff).

We have access to all sorts of special effects, which help us make our photos look sharper, softer, warmer, cooler, and just plain gorgeous. The trick is not to overuse effects, so that people see the finished image and say, "Wow, you look good!" rather than, "That's so cool! How did they do that?"

Here's an example, a photo from a 2004 wedding, actually. I love how the retouched version looks like something out of a fairytale (one with a happy ending).

Click on any image to enlarge.

SOTC (straight out of the camera):

And after a little work:

Mimzy in the trashcan

2008-07-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, it's just that she's particularly cute lately!

I couldn't find Mimzy anywhere, and Joe pointed out she'd found a new hideout. This is a mesh wastebasket that we just moved from the old office, on top of a box full of binders, which is on top of a wheeled cart. I kept walking by, not taking a picture, but I finally gave in.

Mimzy the office bunny. Chillin'.

2008-07-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, another Mimzy video. This is a typical day for an office bun.

Pet Portrait Tour 2008!

2008-07-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it's really 2008-2009.

We're taking this show on the road! Beginning October 18 (hello, Birmingham, AL!) I'll be traveling the country, meeting awesome pets of all kinds. Right now, the following areas are on our list, but we'll have to narrow them down a bit:

Birmingham, AL
St. Louis, MO
SoCal
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Atlanta, GA
Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
Phoenix, AZ
Portland, OR
Kansas City, MO
Boston, MA
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC
Louisville, KY
Baltimore, MD
Nashville, TN
Indianapolis, IN

Watch the blog for more details.

Honey, pictured above, was adopted! Check Petfinder for adoptable pets in your area.

On newstands now!

2008-07-07T16:45:00.001-07:00

Be sure to grab a copy of the new Fall/Winter issue of The Knot: Ohio to see Wendy and Cliff's wedding pics, by yours truly. Or just click on the images here to enlarge.

We've been in enough magazines now that I've lost count, but it's always fun to see our work in print.

The Jerk Centre

2008-07-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

I suppose this is where some of my ex-boyfriends came from. These are all over Jamaica. Stay tuned for destination wedding pics!

Us on the beach

2008-07-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

There are way too many gorgeous photos of Leslie and Sean - we will need some time to narrow them down. But here's one of Joe and me on the beach.

Incommunicado

2008-07-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry we've been incommunicado! We're in Jamaica, and though Verizon promised we'd have phone service, we don't. We can get text messages out occasionally, thank goodness, but internet (and email) have been very spotty. So spotty that I'll be lucky to get this blog entry up.

It's been lovely here, but I am itching to get back to civilization and my dogs!

We're off!

2008-06-27T17:30:00.001-07:00

Well, we're off immediately after our weddings tomorrow. Leslie and Sean are getting hitched in Jamaica, and they decided to bring us along!

If you're trying to reach us, email us through the website, or comment here. If it's nothing urgent, leave a voicemail and we'll get back to you. I hope to be able to blog from the resort, so check back!

Good week to be a photographer!

2008-06-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Summertime can be overwhelming in our business, but this week has been a good one to be a photographer. We got a lovely gift from Leslie, who is flying us to Jamaica soon, and were surprised by a package that arrived today, containing my favorite vodka, and some single malt scotch that Joe is excited to try.

We photographed the kitchens and several dishes for Inverness Club's website, and got a personal thank you from the executive chef. Thank you for the thank you, Pete!

Wanna hear about our wedding meals?
	Yeah! Sounds like fun!
	Nah, give me more wedding pics
	I love baloney!

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