A Fairy Tale Wedding

What little girl hasn’t looked at Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World, and thought how extraordinarily wonderfully awesome it would be to be married at Disney….

The dream usually involves our bride being dressed by fairies in pink and blue, then magically transported on Cinderella’s coach drawn by six miniature snow white horses to the base of the castle, where Prince Charming waits in breathless anticipation of the first sight of the love of his life…… it is a very good dream.

A Possible dream!

Ok, a VERY expensive dream too!

Disney has a variety of incredibly picturesque locations for weddings, besides the castle. The wedding Pavilion on Bay Lake, the point at the Polynesian Resort, the Yacht club, The Grand Floridian and Wilderness lodge all have glorious views – the perfect setting for your happily ever after.

But hold on to your pocketbooks!

A simple escape for 4 is a minimum of $4,500 (plus lodging), and larger weddings have minimums of $10 to $20 thousand or more, depending on season and venue.

These rates do NOT include the photographer… I felt I should add that…

There are alternatives to the full monte, of course.

Consider the delightful, intimate affair I took part in last September which was accomplished for under $2,000…. And that included the dress!

The bride and groom rented a 2 bedroom villa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort for one night, and held the wedding in the common room. After the simple but elegant ceremony, the wedding party went for drinks in Disney’s Port Orleans resort, where our bride and groom took a half hour carriage ride along the canal - not for the huge fee that they get for Cinderella’s coach, but for $45 – the normal tourist rate.

As the photographer and, (I have to admit), father of the groom, I had an exceptional variety of beautiful places and people to photograph; and great memories to capture for our couple.

Was their Disney experience a bad one? Of course not! It was exquisite in every way – it was just not held at any of the iconic “Disney” locations.

In retrospect, the location didn’t matter at all. Doug and Sara were so “in” to each other that they didn’t seem to notice their surroundings. The wedding was, as all weddings should be, an affirmation of their love for each other, NOT a show to impress guests.

Instead of a bachelor party, we all spent the evening before at the Magic Kingdom, at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (in costume, of course), and the day after, the couple celebrated their first full day as husband and wife alone, at…. Universal Studios.

Even a Disney wedding doesn’t have to be ALL Disney…. Just MOSTLY Disney…

For more information of your own Fairy Tale Wedding, go to www.disneyweddings.go.com, or call them at Disney’s office of Fairy Tale Weddings, at 321-939-7100, or 407-827-6799

For more information on doing a wedding without spending a fortune, you’re on your own.

“WHAT? I’m on my own???”

Yes, you’re on your own. All of the bridal magazines and specialty brochures you read are designed to sell you something and usually an expensive something. Even MY advice and ideas are, at least in part, designed to sell you on my profession’s services.

So while you are on your own, think of families, friends, pretty locations that don’t involve Maitre D’s or liquor licenses and remember how much you are in love with your intended mate. THAT is the only really important thing.

But Disney is nice too.

For a few photos from that delightful, intimate Disney Wedding, click here.

The REAL America

The REAL America….

Forget politics. Forget Government programs.
Forget right and left.

I experienced the REAL America this past Saturday, at a benefit for Shannon Johnson, who was left paralyzed by an auto accident last year.

This event made me reflect on this great country and its people, to try to identify what and who we really are – and I have come up with a few observations. What makes up the REAL America? Who are we really?

The REAL America includes the guys in the tractor shed next door roasting the pigs and drinking beer.

The REAL America includes those friends who give of themselves to put on a benefit with no reward other than the heartfelt thanks of everyone that they touch.

The REAL America includes the friends who solicited donations from local wineries and businesses.

The REAL America includes those businesses who give from their profits and stock to help someone in need.

The REAL America includes band, vocal group and a DJ who donated their time to help someone who needs it.

The REAL America is young, old, skinny, fat, professional, redneck, employed and unemployed.

The REAL America is people with dreams, whether it is to start their own business or work at a job.

The REAL America includes all those who paid for the party with money that might have been better spent elsewhere – but knew a real need and wanted to help.

The REAL America looks to themselves first, then to each other.

The REAL America IS the most generous people in the world.

What an awesome people! What an awesome country!

For more photos of this event, please visit http://monroepayne.smugmug.com/Events/Shannon-Johnson-Benefit. Profits from any sales will go directly to the family.

My Review of Photogenic StudioMax III AC Operated 320ws Constant Color Monolight, with Reflector & Flashtube.

Adorama

Photogenic StudioMax III AC Operated 320ws Constant Color Monolight, with Reflector & Flashtube.

Photogenic StudioMax III AC Operated 320ws Constant Color Monolight, with Reflector & Flashtube.

Lightweight, Reliable and Consistent

Monroe Payne Ithaca, NY 4/25/2009

 

5 5

Pros: Attach Securely, Long-Lasting, Durable

Best Uses: General Use, Portable

Describe Yourself: Pro Photographer

My use of the StudioMax 320 is location photography. I transport a pair to my location sessions, and have had 100% reliability and consistent color, every time.

Although I would not recommend dropping them, when it has happened, they have continued operation as if nothing happened.

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Still Standing Guard

Meet Sindl. She is an old, old kitty, but you will always find her at the ready if one of the Grandchildren is sick.

She's been on guard since my son the Knight was in Junior high, worrying over his hurts and woes.

What a comfort she is. Always there and always gentle - unless there is a foe about.

Then she becomes Camo-Kitty, the war cat.

When she is gone, I'll have these photos, and will be able to tell young Gabriel what a valient cat it was that would stand over him, protecting him, and trying to make the hurt go away.

Will you have those photos of your loved ones, or your pets to tell the next generation about?

Talk to me. I want to help.

Monroe

Displays of Art Work to View

" Just a few last minute instructions..."

This is one of a series of photos of the Sterling Renaissance Faire photographed in July 2007.

The Cardinal is actually Michael Reilly, a software engineer from Massachusetts, and the horse belongs to the "New Riders of the Golden Age" jousting troupe, ridden by the evil knight Sir William Dudley.

I'm often asked, "How do you get a photo like that?"

The answer is, the camera has to be with you, on and ready at all times.

The other answer, is that you must be open to recognizing these images as they occur, and be willing to actually lift the camera to your eye instead of just standing there in open mouthed awe. Yes, that is a difficult thing to do at the Ren Faire.

Another way is to leave the camera at your eye continually. I would, but my wife Janet, who makes the exquisite costumes we wear, seems to think that a camera in my face detracts from our overall regal impact as we walk the faire....

But now to the actual purpose of this post - We have two brand new displays up at local businesses, Transformations Hair Salon, http://www.transformationshairstudio.com/, and at Trumansburg Optical on Main Street in Trumansburg, NY. http://www.trumansburgoptical.com/. These businesses have been supporters and clients for years, and are the best of their types.

Also, I would like to recognize the Lansing Star Online, http://www.lansingstar.com/ for being a tremendous supporter of the Lansing community. I appreciate their client centeredness and sense of civic responsibility. Thank you, Dan and Karen Veaner, publishers.

Until next time!

More thoughts on kindness

This week, my family and I are coping with the death of my Mom, Jean Payne. She lived a very full 90 years, and we are now attempting to put together a fitting memorial service for her.

If there is a perfect word to describe her, it would be "Kind". "Selfless" and "Loving" would also fit, but "Kind" fits best.

Six years ago, she had a brain "incident", which caused her to be hospitalized for two months, then moved to a nursing home for three more months. Her recovery  - her REAL recovery began at the nursing home when she began to pay attention to the hurts, woes and concerns of the other patients, putting their problems  before her own. 

What a glorious lesson for us all. The self-healing power of concern,  love and kindness that was embodied in her life, can work for all of us in our own lives.

I have a purpose in my own life - I have a need to make someone - ANYone, at least once a day, laugh.  Snickers, half smiles and rolling eyes don't count. It has to be a really good laugh.

Have you ever been in a supermarket and been the person BEHIND the booger who is giving the young cashier a hard time? You know the scene. She is dutifully taking care of the next customer (you) but what she really wants to do is dissolve in tears. She's biting her lower lip, and you can see her lips and hands trembling - her eyes are moist.....

Here is where humor and kindness can truly make someone's day, week or month.

I lean over and quietly whisper to her "You know, if it wasn't for the assholes, you wouldn't appreciate the nice folks...."  The clouds part, the sun shines and the smile takes over the formerly upset face. Then the laughter begins. It's worth it.

Ok, it's a gift. But even gifts take practice.

The more you practice at being kind, the easier it gets, and the more you want the results of your being kind, the more it becomes a need.... kind of like a narcotic....

I think I understand Mom a little better.

Until next time.

Monroe

PS, I hope you like the photo above. Find more like it at http://www.yessy.com/paynephoto/gallery.html. There are several galleries within my site. Please enjoy them all.

No act of kindness is ever wasted. Ever.

So what is an act of kindness?

It should be self explanatory, but in case you missed the memo, let me elucidate.

Monte Zucker, one of the all time greats in the photo business, took the time to respond to an email I sent him; a 4 page letter that I received only a few short hours after I sent mine to him.

As a beginning professional photographer, I had no reason to even consider the possibility that he might even respond with an automated note - I was a nobody. But not to Monte.

Monte knew that everyone was special, and had incredible gifts that just had to be properly nurtured and allowed to grow. His willingness to take the time to encourage me has helped set the tone for my professional life, a tone of sharing and continual growth.

We have no idea what our words or actions will have on those we touch. Negative words are poison, and once they leave our lips (or keyboard) they are nearly impossible to erase. It is amazing how clearly they are remembered by those who heard, and how they affect those in the line of fire.

Positive words, on the other hand, don't usually make the news. But they are remembered, nurtured and cherished by those who have the fortune to be their recipient.

And they are life changing.

So back to kindness. What is kindness?

It is taking the time to help someone who has no possibility of paying you back. It is a smile; a kind word or a forgiving attitude. It is three minutes with a child, paying attention like there is noone else in the world.

It is knowing that you will leave each person you touch a little better than you found them.

Practice your kindness. The smiles you get in return are addicting.

Until next time!