…

Having planned the wedding on my own, I was very conscious of what I could spend my money on and what I needed to cut back on:  The dress (a must!), the food (of course), drinks (a given) and location, décor, flowers…it all adds up.  Photography ranked up there in the top 5 must haves but as a young girl I never dreamt of what I wanted out of my wedding pictures…until I saw Tomme Hilton’s work.  I fell in love with the photography at first sight.  She has a touch of class, a bit of edginess and an artsy feel to her pictures that I did not see in other photographers.  I had no hesitation in hiring her.

Having been only an attendee at weddings a handful of times over the years, I had no idea what I was in for when I decided to plan this wedding on my own.  EVERYTHING went wrong.  The dress didn’t fit, the caterers cancelled, my flowers were the wrong color AND…the limo broke down.  Everything that could go wrong…did.  Except for the photography.   Tomme was on time…and prepared.  She had hangers and backdrops, lighting, everything ready to go.  I didn’t realize how much I would appreciate this except that everything else was wrong…she was the one thing I did not have to micromanage and ‘fix’ that night.

I remember when first meeting Tomme, her words were “We will spend a lot of time together on that day, you need to make sure you like me because I will be in your face all day”.  Of course I liked Tomme immediately, her bubbly personality and persona are so charismatic, you can’t help but feel at ease.  And as for the day of the event… she was right, she was following me all day!  To this day I cannot thank her more!  Tomme and her team worked hard.  My wedding was on a hot, balmy June evening and Tomme worked her butt off.  She was covered in sweat and still had the ability to catch the scenery of the event and angles in the evening light.  The pictures are gorgeous and will live forever.  She captured scenes throughout the night that show the elegance, the romance and the love that is so often felt, but rarely seen in the pictures.  The photography is GORGEOUS.  She captured the details of the wedding day, but more importantly, she captured the romance around it.  I will continue to recommend her to my newly engaged friends and to rehire her when the time comes.

Ultimately, the wedding dress was custom altered and delivered to me the day before the wedding,  a friend recommended Iverson catering who worked their schedule to fit me in on a busy Saturday in June (did I mention ONE week before the event!! – and the food was wonderful!) and the limo service ultimately had a similar car they offered for a portion of the night.

In looking back at all of the stress and commotion of the day…I can only remember the words of one of my friends when reminiscing of the pictures.  To quote “ She captured the moment of the wedding, not just the pictures”.

…

We are so thankful to have had such a wonderful daring couple! After a little over 5 years in the business, I finally got to see a couple JUMP into a pool at the end of the night! I must say, it was HOT and a wonderful way to cool down!

Thanks Kelly and Jay! We cannot wait to see you two grow as a couple! Hope to see you again down the road!

xo,

tomme and erica.

STAY TUNED for more weddings!

If you have not entered for the FREE wedding package, do so now!!

We are now accepting emails describing to us the reasons you should receive free wedding photography. Emails shall include the following:

• Name of the Couple entering

• at least 1000 words describing you two as a couple

• 3 or more photographs that show who you are as a couple

To be considered for our contest, each applicant must blog, tweet and facebook about Tomme Hilton Gallery! When you email your entry please send us your links to prove you have done all three!

DEADLINE: August 31, 2010

*Your wedding should be scheduled in the off season of November thru February.

*Valued at 4500.

*Please email all entries to gallery.tommehilton@gmail.com

Thank you for applying! Best of luck to each of you. We look forward to our next FREE wedding couple!

SO, sit back and enjoy the ride! We have lots of things coming to you in the next couple of weeks — from weddings to baby bumps to babies… sigh. The circle of life!

Tonight, I shall blog about my experience with my recent baby affairs. They were a while back, BUT I never got the chance to blog about them on here! So, catch up step one: START.

First: Master Griffin

Mr. Precious Griffin was SUCH a trooper… from the carpet to Mama and Daddy’s arms to kitchen bowls to snuggle time to pianos and fire pits… I think we maxed out on our limit! Griffin was a little over a week old when his mama and daddy decided to do his photo shoot! And lets just say… AMAZING! Griffin was a GREAT baby during his shoot. As we all came to notice, He can just about sleep ANYWHERE!

Last: Miss Lilly (starting with the glass sink bowl)

Baby Lilly was two weeks old and a tiny lil’ thing too! She was only a little over 6lbs. That’s right. Two weeks and 6+lbs! Can you believe it! Sigh. A tiny bundle of joy that did not want to give up her paci! AND her house was just amazing! I could spend days taking photos of Baby Lilly! I sure do hope I get the privilege of taking her 3 month photos! I did get the privilege of designing her baby announcements.

If you are interested in Tomme or I taking photos of your ‘wee wittle won’ — let us know. We would love to be an addition to your new addition! ha. Just email us at gallery.tommehilton@gmail.com

*Please stay tuned as we blog about our recent JUNE wedding extravaganza’s and post our {GUEST BLOGS}

Till next time,

erica.

But I’m facing dilemmas I want to try to change. I feel myself most drawn to the personal blogs where the writers speak candidly and freely about their lives.  So in the same ways those writers are able to pull me into their world and embody me with interest – I want to allow myself to be more personalized, which is hard for me. I’ve had to be the strong, silent stable figure for much of my life but this is something that needs to change. I just visited a shaman, of sorts who told me I needed to live an authentic life and this is where I intend to start. Letting some of my fearful walls down. Boy, aren’t you in for a treat?

These writers I love -their words flow freely without fear – for they are who they are, they know themselves — never flinching in the shadows.  They make no excuses – I find that is so refreshing in a world saturated with political correctness and those whom find power sitting behind their computers.  One of the biggest inspirations was a friend I had met on Flickr, Jessica Weiser (http://www.fideliophotography.com/). She used to post these really amazing photographs and then have amazing stories to coincide with them. Which for me, not being as great with the word ADORED the fact that she felt so at ease to write about her life and her hardships throughout her life. I instantly liked and connected with her.  I don’t even think I’ve ever even told her that, but this is a great example in life that you may not ever have any idea that you have an impact on someone – when in all actuality you do. Do you know that person who has inspired you or gave you insight? Do you have that person or one of many people that have shaped you or continue to mold you?  I have many people but Jessica is certainly one of them.  Which this in turn leads me to Ashley.

I will be shooting a wedding with an upcoming photographer, who had some really amazing friends that thought *SO* highly of her – they bought her ME. Ok, let me back that up a bit – that sounds ODD… Ashley loves photography and her friends love HER so much, they wanted to push her and have her learn. She was turned onto my work through a friend of a friend kind of thing and I think she found an affinity and kinship  in my work. They wrote me and hired me to mentor Ashley. When I first met Ashley, we spoke briefly at LaHacienda over a couple margaritas (I instantly liked a fellow margarita lover) and I decided that instead of being much of an instructor in life. I’m a do-er.  I tend to be the verb instead of the noun. So she had her own wedding coming up to shoot. Tomorrow actually that I will be helping with.

It’s always fun to second shoot a wedding and get to tap into your creative self when you find yourself getting stale. I try to get as creative as possible in most situations, but when you get 15 minutes to do photos at a wedding,  you end up pulling out the traditional gotta- haves. That’s not inspiring, but actually stifling to a creative mind wanting to expand and <CREATE>.  So while second shooting, you get to do NOTHING but be CREATIVE. AAaaaah, music to my ears. I do tend to get many brides that will factor in lots of photo time, but there are some weddings that photos get rushed and it makes a world of difference. I will be posting some of these wedding images on here soon.

In trying to figure out what images to blog, I thought I might choose the prom images I did recently. They are fun, and fresh and youthful and it’s that season so here is Vince and Ally’s prom shoot.

In my efforts of tearing down the walls that defined me, I hope not to bore you to tears about my uneventful life. I am pretty sure I had such a traumatic childhood that God & the Angels decided my adulthood should be very mundane. And depending on who you are, maybe it is and maybe it isn’t.

Enjoy! I think my A.D.D. is kicking up — Oh look, something shiny…

XO

It was a really icky day here in Charleston and luckily everyone else thought so too. We basically had the USS Yorktown to ourselves to complete the feel for the shoot.

Next time your couple session seems humdrum or if your fiancee is dreading it, let him have fun planning the shoot to his liking. This will get him involved and actually look forward to it.

Until next time. XO

We’ll see more of Melissa and Davey in October for the BIG DAY!

Our big day took place at The Woodlands. The coordinator, Dale Wherry made sure the day went as planned. It was a GORGEOUS day out. These girls with these Spring weddings have really lucked out with this amazing weather.

I just love clicking with clients right off the bat. Lindsey is the sweetest, kindest and most gracious person you could ever meet. I’m lucky to have met her and Daniel and hopefully you will get to see their story and family unfold before our eyes.

There was not a single dry eye in the house when her and her pops had their first dance. HOLY MOLY! I need dry eyes to see through my viewfinder in the camera and that was not an easy task for any of us.

Daniel happens to be a Carolina fan and Lindsey, on the other hand – Clemson. I love when he found out she had the Clemson garter. His face is pretty priceless.

Enjoy! Until next time. xo

I feel the need to tell you about something that makes me smile  —   I have a WONDERFUL collection of koozies thanks to my couples, thank you for allowing our beverages to stay cool.  We prob have about 50 different koozie couples. 

I also don’t know if you know this, but  I keep a small photo collection of my couples, if we do an e sesh (or a bridal) I put one on my fridge… sometimes couples will send me ‘Save the date’ magnet , so I have the majority of my couples greet me at the fridge every morning – I will have to take a pic and show you, a collage of all my friends that just so happened to hire me to take great images for them. All these smiling lovebirds that make me happy b/c I’ve taken photos of them, being in love with each other, ME – doing what I love. Yeah, I adore those pics! There are a couple things that I like to do to get my day started on the right track & you guys being on my fridge, reminding me of what I love every day.. sets that pace for me. 

Well, I got to shoot Robin Wright-Penn and Orlando Bloom recently. Ok, not exactly BUT that’s who Megan and Ian look like to me.  Jim says that Ian looks like Charlie Sheen, but I don’t see that. I think he’s much more Orlando.

What I DO know is how photogenic they are. I spent lots of time with them and felt like I got to know them tremendously. And, as fortunate as I end up…..I’d love to hang out with them again at another time.  They are just that like-able. 

Megan is going to school to get her MD. And I’m so touched by her gentle soft nature and how SWEET she is.  I have a background in medicine, and MOST female dr’s were a little harsh.. So I’m really enamoured that Megan is going to be such a great Dr. with such a FABULOUS bedside manner… her patients will love her.

Ian is finishing up his PhD and they have moved to Lexington, KY.. which is where some of my family is from. I’m jealous they will get to sip mint juleps and go to the Derby. Kentucky really is an undiscovered beauty.. Lexington is actually a pretty nice area.. with BLUEgrasses and rolling hills, and horses that run full speed for miles and miles…….also the fans of UK there are pretty committed to their teams. I have pictures of myself when I was 13 – I have a UK Wildcats tank top on.. with HAIR WINGS, lots of aqua net and pin striped pants. I could also find that for you and you would prob never want to hire me, but my love for UK started long ago.. so guys, don’t forget to invite me sometime.

Ok, pics already…………

I had some really cool lenses and I love how just the sequin part of this dress is focused and the other is soft and dreamy. Love that. 

Her bouquet was bright and brilliant and really stood out.

Orlando’s debut.

Pretty darn photogenic, huh?

Her expression coming down the aisle.

and HIS expression seeing her come down the aisle. This is classic.

Man, I loved this fountain.

We chased them in our car and caught up to the limo!

I’m trying to decide if this my favorite shot of the night. So many ….

Megan with her pops.  I so loved how her dress would just cascade thru the air like that. I don’t always get dresses that have so much movement so I think I really tried to capitalize on how hers moved. 

And this was the ‘vette that Ian was really excited to rush Megan off to the hotel!! I am not sure if he was excited about driving that vette or just getting to the hotel, wink wink

Well, that’s all for tonight. I will catch up with you again next week! xoxo

BUT I have a ‘vision board’ that I use and it helps keep me on task. My number one on that vision board- as of today: BLOG EVERY WEDNESDAY……..my original Humpdate- plan-of- action.  It somehow fell apart at the seams.. I’m picking back up and grabbing the sewing machine and we are back to being the wicked stepsisters. 

Well, today’s fine post is brought to you by the poor photographer’s foundation.  { trying to entertain myself.. get on with it already.. }

This is Wendi and Tom. We are getting married June 6th at Magnolia Plantation.   Check out the link if you haven’t seem Magnolia already. Gorgeous. All those elements of Charleston everyone loves Charleston for. 

Tom and Wendi: they are really fun – we ended up meeting for margaritas and time just flew…that’s when you know you hit it off with someone. You look up and before you know it, you are like .. ‘WOAH’.. I gotta get goin’….. I really look forward to their wedding.  Here are some of their engagements.

I just love this soft blue on her..it looks like creamy, cotton candy goodness!

I’m always looking at lighting. How it affects what I’m shooting.. where it is. How I can use it or hide from it. Most of my couples when they see me aiming my camera AT the sun, they think I’m a little off. (Nah, me?)

I love this bldg. Everytime I can shoot at it, I end up spending lotsa time here getting shots b/c it looks great in color AND b/w… those stripes really add a cool element to the shots. 

And, if you hadn’t noticed.. I have a thing for horizontal people. More often than not, this is how I try to get all my clients at one point in our relationship. 

The sun sure went down quick that night.. you know that’s a good sign when that happens, it always feels more like hanging out w friends rather than being on a shoot and working…… somehow I usually end up lucking out with my brides being ppl I really enjoy hanging out with and getting to know. 

Had to take this shot. They are getting married 6/6 so this just seemed to call to me. 

That’s Tom and Wendi and we’ll be revisiting them as they are my next wedding. Look forward to the great images we get and the fun tales to tuck under our caps.

Send some prayers my way. Jim is still unable to find work.. he’s been laid off since November and hasn’t had any luck. He’s been posting resumes all over the country to no avail. He has a history in film, movies and writing screenplays.. but he was a liason with civil engineering and construction… he also has a CDL, but that is by far his last resort. He told me the other day he thought we were going to move to California…thought the prospects seemed to be better there.  It scared me  b/c it’s hard to start your own business from scratch and it definitely turned on my nervous factor. On the other hand,  I do well with change. I think more often than not, good comes from change. You grow. You figure yourself out better… people just need a good shake up to re evaluate themselves occasionally. It wouldn’t be a ‘bad’ thing but I could certainly use some prayers and sending your guardian angels our way to see if they can work things out for him -HERE-. I’ve always been a firm believer in things happening for reasons..so if we did end up in California it wouldn’t be an awful thing – may take some getting used to but I always look for the positive in most situations.  So if by chance, your guardian angel is bored b/c you’ve been so good.. have her come stop by our house and see if she can do some good here.

Come by and see me on Facebook and Flickr. I have a www.LoftNoire.com and www.TommeHiltonGallery.com page as well on there to keep up on the latest on each of the companies. 

I am going to be such a consistent HUMPDATER…… Make sure you stop by each Wednesday to see the featured blog. 

Until Next Time. I mean, Until next Wednesday. xoxoxo