Paducah Kentucky Wedding Photography...? Yep, We're Moving.

It's official... We're moving to Western Kentucky - the Paducah wedding market (Hardin, to be specific) in February of 2011. Daniel received a wonderful opportunity to work with the Hardin church of Christ; so that will be home in February!

We love our East TN friends family, and clients so much, and will be sad to say goodbye; but, keep in mind we'll still be in the area at least 4 times a year, so we'll be available for portrait sessions in East TN for any of our past wedding clients who are starting families! (Or just want to capture your newly wed bliss in a portrait session).

This means that we're now taking bookings for 2011 in Paducah and surrounding areas (up to 100 mile radius).

*Note: We will continue to keep any East Tennessee engagements/weddings we have booked (even those summer weddings in East TN next year); but, will no longer accept any East TN wedding bookings.

Stay tuned for other big changes, including a gradual name change from "Daniel Howell Photography" to "Howell Photography". (Don't worry, though, our fabulous logo will be staying!)

Oh, I almost forgot one of the biggest pieces of news! If you look on our availability calendar, you may notice that May and June Saturdays have completely been marked off the calendar. Why? Because we're expecting the arrival of our first baby on May the 18th!

Our Dogs: Maggie + Ella

It's been awhile since we've posted about our puppies (okay, okay, I guess they're old enough to be classified as dogs, now). So, here are a few latest images!

Ella
Nickname: "Ella Bell"
Breed: Black Lab
Weight: 65 lbs
Favorite Food: Socks
Favorite Place to Be: Sitting in a chair with her Mom, waiting to lick her face

Maggie
Nickname: "Maggie the Cow"
Breed: Lovable Mutt
Weight: 45 lbs
Favorite Food: Anything stinky
Favorite Place to Be: Running around the neighborhood searching for goodies (she once found hotdog buns that she then proceeded to bury and 'hide').

Our 2009 | A Letter To You

Dear Clients, Potential Clients, and Friends,

We want to thank you SO much for what you all have meant to us this year. 2009 brought forth change, somewhat scary, but also exciting! With the support of friends and family, and the energy and trust of our clients, we've expanded our business into a full-time studio. We wanted to take this time to remind you all (and ourselves) of how the year shaped out, while expressing our sincere gratitude...

2009 marked our first full year in East Tennessee, and with it came growth, a little chaos, and loads of fun. We had super fun clients, many whom were are honored to now call friends. The Mountains seemed to be the location of choice for most of our weddings (some in the heat, some in the freezing cold, but each enjoyable!), but we were also able to explore local venues, and find our favorite engagement sessions spots.

In our personal lives, we enjoyed attending a marriage retreat in the mountains, trekking allover Tennessee & Alabama to visit family and friends, and participating in a super enriching workshop Polishing the Pulpit. We both were in Daniel's sister's wedding party, and were able to witness the union of Rachel & Brandon in marriage (definitely weird to be on the other side of the camera!). After the wedding, we relaxed during our New Orleans vacation, where we enjoyed time at a cooking school, leisurely strolling around the grounds of a plantation, and most importantly devouring the cuisine of the city.

Our dogs have grown (Ella is now 65 lbs and Maggie 45), and our own waistlines have shrunk! We've enjoyed time in fellowship with members of the local congregation, creating lasting friendships. Daniel's work at the Sweetwater church of Christ kept him busy with the 'normal preacher duties', but also with new production projects, such as "Illuminate", a Bible Archaeology program with Garry Hill.

Our biggest change, both to our personal and professional lives, came in the Fall, when we opened our new studio. The studio is mainly used as a meeting space and consultation area for ordering, and has allowed us to guide our clients in the ordering process and for them to see their images HUGE on a screen. We love having it and invite everyone to come visit us in Historic Downtown Sweetwater.

Along with the studio, we've upgraded equipment, allowing for shooting in even lower light (which definitely comes in handy during receptions), among other cabilities.

What's to come next year for Daniel Howell Photography? BIG CHANGES. We're planning on expanding our portrait endeavors, offering more family portraits, senior portraits, and more! We've opened up our calendars and are accepting even more weddings and are ready to create some killer images this year!

We're so excited about 2010, and can't wait to capture moments -- family moments, wedding moments --- life as it happens!

Sincerely,
Martha and Daniel Howell

Sweetwater Photography Studio: Yep, That's Right OUR NEW STUDIO!

We are SO proud to announce that we will be opening our new studio in November. It is located in the antique district of Downtown Sweetwater, Tennessee. We'll have a fabulous place for client meetings, for clients to have a viewing experience (you'll be able to see your images projected HUGE onto a screen + be able to receive a 25% discount on print orders that day), and for you to finally see some samples of some BIG prints and canvases! We hope this will be as exciting for all of you as it is for us.

We've got a lot of work ahead of us to get this new space ready, but we're always ready for a challenge!

THE OFFICIAL BEFORE PICTURES OF THE STUDIO!



(We were (still are) pretty happy about this new adventure!)

US! Photos of Martha & Daniel Howell by Daisy Moffatt Photography

We had the wonderful opportunity to have OUR pictures taken by Beau & Daisy from Daisy Moffatt Photography. It was a little weird being on the other side of the camera, but they made the session SO enjoyable and helped us feel ultra-comfortable. Enjoy these wonderful images of... US!

Look! Daniel actually is taller than me! Just by a smidge...

Places to go... Lions to see

One of the things I enjoy most in life is thinking on good times, but sometimes my memory isn't as good as it should be for a twenty-something. So, when Daniel and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary last month, I wanted to do something special to help us remember a few of our good times.

SO, I bought tacks, a cork board, and a map to aide in our memory journey to all the places we've been together.

After we stuck a tack in the places we have been, we dreamed about the places we want to go.

The map was a map of only the US, and if we want to conquer all of those dots we better get busy! But, of course, I do enjoy traveling internationally, which Daniel & I haven't had the opportunity to do together. Someday (SOON!) we will.

Why in the world am I writing about this today? Well, last night we were cleaning our basement (which is where all of the random items go including our dogs!), and I took special notice of a collection of wooden animals.



The animals were brought back by my parents on our trip to Africa, a trip that I have always cherished and longed to repeat! So, blame the animals for this post!

Any brides getting married in Africa who'd like to fly us over? :)

What We Do For Our Brides

After coming inside after a few bridal portraits, Kari was hot. So, Daniel fanned her with a reflector!


We'll do almost anything for our brides (and our grooms, too)! :) On your big day we try our best to be an unobtrusive as possible, but we're always there if you need help pinning flowers, arranging favors, buttoning buttons, and keeping cool.

This is a side note -- while we do live in Sweetwater, we proudly photograph Knoxville weddings, Chattanooga Weddings and surrounding areas. Don't be afraid to ask -- if we can't help you, then we'll try to direct you to a photographer who can!

Rachel and Brandon's Big Day Finally Arrived!

Rachel, my sister-in-law, and Brandon (now my brother-in-law, I guess!), got married last Saturday!

As Daniel and I were in the wedding, we weren't the photographers, but are looking forward to seeing the pictures, taken by Christen Jones from Memphis when they're available (we'll keep you posted). It was quite an experience being on the "wrong side" of the camera this weekend; but, we enjoyed working with Christen, or rather Christen working with us. It helped remind me of why we do what we do -- to capture memories of one of the most important days in a couple's life.

The trip to West TN was long, but SO worth it! The wedding was beautiful and we had a blast seeing family members and friends who we have been missing! My mother-in-law, her sister, and mom did the flowers, cake, and food. BUT, this was no "do-it-yourself" wedding, it was absolutely FABULOUS; and, I'm picky, so I should know! :)

We wish Rachel and Brandon the best in their marriage together and look forward to what the future holds for them! (Photos above were by Daniel, during a quick photo session of Rachel and Brandon. To see more or purchase images, visit www.danielhowellphotography.zenfolio.com)

Bridal Show Recap

We had a blast meeting you all at the bridal show - I hope you've had time to look through our packets and are ready for a consultation! Remember, you must book a consultation by March 10 to receive the free $100 print credit if you book a wedding package.

Our fabulous booth was built by Daniel - he has SO many talents. But, boy, the walls were heavy! :)





WINNERS OF THE FREE ENGAGEMENT SESSION ARE...

Well, there were tons of you who signed up for a free e-session! Many of you told me "I never win anything. I have such bad luck." For that reason, I've decided to take luck out of the equation. Instead, simply send in 1)the story of your proposal, 2)why you love your fiance, OR 3)the sweetest thing your fiance has ever done for you! I'll then post them on the blog and let you ALL vote on your favorite. We might even give away several free engagement sessions according to the response.

Just email us your submissions (they can be as short or as long as you would like!) to daniel@danielhowellphotography.com

Even if you weren't at the bridal show, you're welcome to join in and submit your love story! Good luck! You have until March 1st to submit!

Don't Eat That!

When my grandmother passed away (see a couple of posts down for pictures of her), I knew I wanted at least one of her quirky magnets as a daily reminder of her. The one I had my eye on said "You can't trust skinny cooks"... however, a cousin called it first. So, I grabbed a cute little pig that says, "Don't eat that, you'll get fat!". This little pig has been through a lot and lost a head in the process!

It happened to be holding up our new marketing materials on our fridge when Daniel decided that we needed a picture of it! Enjoy!

Great Smoky Mountain Marriage Retreat

Daniel & I were blessed by our experience at the Great Smoky Mountain Marriage Retreat this past weekend. We enjoyed the enriching sessions and the time we had to relax together!

I thought that I'd share a list that Brad Harrub gave in one of his lessons...

"Gifts You Can Give Your Marriage"

- Start and end each day with a kiss
- Wear your wedding ring
- Talk about your dreams
- Send a card to your spouse for no reason
- Say "I Love You" every day
- Do it (whatever it may be) your spouse's way
- Wink at each other
- Pray for each other
- Cuddle
- Send a gift for no reason
- Flirt with each other
- Hold hands
- Be gentle
- Encourage one another
- Give each other back or foot rubs

I hope this list gives you all some ideas to help strengthen and keep the romance alive in your marriages!

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

*Note - These photos were obviously not taken by us (as we were not alive!). Also, they haven't been retouched - they're presented here as scanned in...Just thought I'd preface...

This first photo is of my grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day. It's the only photo they ever had of the day they said "I Do" - sometimes we forget how important one single photo can be; not just for one person's life - but for their children and their children's children.

They wed in Florida before my grandfather was to be deployed (in WWII). One day my grandmotehr was recalling that day - and what she remembered the best was her brand new alligator pumps. SHOES! :) I love it.

A portrait of my grandmother....



Her basketball team (in 1935 as it says on the photo)...



Another portrait (perhaps taken when she was working at Oak Ridge?)...




I hope you enjoyed these and remember to never forget the value of a photo!

Answer to Contest Post - Bob Dylan

A couple of you did get it right (see a few posts below about guessing who the artist was) - the picture of the young handsome artist whose music I (Martha) absolutely adore is of Robert Allen Zimmerman, better known to the world as Bob Dylan.

I was first introduced to Bob Dylan when I became obsessed with Jakob Dylan & The Wallflowers (circa "Bringing Down the Horse" album). In fact, the first real concert I attended featured Dylan (along with Paul Simon - what an AMAZING concert). The second time I saw Dylan he a was a bit older and a bit harder to understand - yet still captivating. For Bob Dylan newbies I recommend first starting out with "Blonde On Blonde" - you'll love it. Some argue that while he may be a poetic songwriter, singer he is not. I disagree - listen to the Byrds sing "Mr. Tambourine Man" then listen to Dylan's - the meaning comes to life with Dylan's (as they are his words he of course knows what they truly mean)!

So, there's my musical thought for the day - for those of you who have yet to experience the power of Dylan, give him a shot.

Oh, and don't be surprised if we name our firstborn after Mr. Zimmerman.

Don't Forget - The Bridal Show!

See... I told you that I would be reminding you all about the Bridal show on Feb 22 in Chattanooga! (Visit http://timesfreepress.com/news/formalaffair/) for more information. Also remember our free print credit for booking between now and 15 days after the show (see http://danielhowellphotography.blogspot.com/2009/01/chattanooga-bridal-formal-event-expo.html) for more information.

Okay, now that "business" is out of the way, I wanted to share with all of you (all 2 of you who are out there reading this!) a 'resolution' that I have: to leave behind my corporate technical writing ways when blogging! Many times I write my blogs like commercial copy and leave out personal details. I have gotten feedback from people wanting more personal less business, so I'll try!

The next four weeks are going to be absoultely INSANE! Next week Daniel will be traveling to Henderson, TN (in West TN) for almost the entire week. The next weekend we're taking time off for a marriage retreat. We've rented a secluded cabin to relax and get away to - also to celebrate Valentine's Day! And the next weekend is the bridal show...

Oh and, we have an engagement session (pray for great weather!), a family portrait session, and are going to build our bridal show set. Yes, I said BUILDING it! You'll have to come to the show to see what we have in store, but you will NOT be disappointed (don't worry for those of you who won't be able to make it, we will post pics on this blog).

UT versus Alabama

Yes, UT lost, but at least the band always makes it all worth while.

The video above is of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band - CIRCLE DRILLS!

Too Many Pictures?!

Someone recently commented that we had TOO MANY PICTURES on our blog! Is that even possible? (I think not). But I do understand where that person was coming from; they wanted more words! So, from now on I'll be posting more about what's going on in our lives (which means posts may not be accompanied by photos).

First of all...

Tomorrow we're having an exciting day out. Maggie (our newest puppy) is getting "fixed" so we decided it would be a great day to spend quality time with Ella (our lab puppy) in case she's feeling a little left out! Stay tuned for photos of our great adventure.

Snapshot of Maggie "the cow"

Snapshot of Ella

Secondly...

The election's over, and I won't touch on our political views here, but I think perhaps we are all breathing a sigh of relief that it's all over (regardless of whether or not we're happy about the outcome). Now we can move on with our lives without hearing about the campaign. However, on such a historic occassion, we're all proud to be part of such a great nation in which we can cast a vote for our voice to be heard.

Third of all...

Christmas is quickly approaching; I'm even seeing the decorations out in retail stores (too early in my opinion). We're staying pretty close to home this year - no vacation plans as of yet. So, if you're thinking about ordering some photos for a Christmas present, do it as soon as possible. Also, keep in mind that album orders for Christmas must be placed within the next two weeks due to manufacturer deadlines. Also, portait sessions make great gifts; contact us now for rates!

Lastly...

I (Martha) have been a die hard Vols fan since I was about 8 years old and have had the privilege occupying one of my mother's season ticket seats from about 1997 to present. Therefore, this week has been one full of mixed feelings. I am extremely loyal and will hate to see Fulmer go (I actually cried during his press conference); however, *change* (yes, the dreaded "c" word) is needed for the Vols. I wish Fulmer and the Vols future success and will be cheering them on for the rest of the season. (I am dreading the forecast of rain for this Saturday's game).

Daniel, on the other hand, has had a different type of emotional week with his football team, as he watched Alabama reach the number 1 position in the polls. Roll Tide!