Balance Photo

The ABCs

2012-02-08T12:40:00.005-05:00

We're always tickled to get images published in a magazine. And this time, we've got pictures in a magazine made just for event professionals, Wedding Planner Magazine. It's a bi-monthly publication of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC - clever name right? :)

Last fall, Brittany and I photographed one day of the annual 3-day ABC Business of Brides Conference, organized by local planner Shelby Tuck-Horton and held in Baltimore at the Tremont Grand. We've shot a good number of weddings there over the years, but doing a conference packed with wedding planners was a totally different animal - and loads of fun.

Early in the day, we were honored to shoot the annual awards ceremony and make a group portrait of consultants who have achieved "Master" status in the ABC organization. This group of 12 men and women are at the top of their game - and came to Baltimore from all over the world - even from as far as Japan!

The rest of the day, we documented seminars, a trade show and a luncheon. Below, 2nd from the left, is one of Brittany's gorgeous details from the lunch decor.

The event finished up with the keynote speaker, Diann Valentine. Valentine is not only a well-known television personality - she's also inspiring and downright hilarious. We were both inspired by her success story and incredible business savvy.

Overall, it was a great day and we both learned a lot, even though we aren't wedding coordinators. Some known is universal.

And the biggest lesson of the day... well, we both already knew that. All brides should do themselves a solid and hire a professional wedding coordinator! It's the best gift you can hope for on your Big Day.

~ Rissa

Judgement Day

2012-02-06T12:40:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday evening we were honored to be invited back to the Baltimore Camera Club to judge a print contest.

Rissa and Stephen from balance, along with a 3rd panelist from the club, acted as judges for 4 sets of prints: Novice Monochrome; Novice Color; Unlimited Monochrome and Unlimited Color. All the prints were mounted and matted - and looked very elegant. There were quite a few pieces that were so excellent, we had trouble picking a winner. I can think of one or two I loved so much, I'd hang them in our home.

Judging was done in a focused and professional way with lights-out. As judges, we were not allowed to discuss the images. We had a preview of entire collections, then silently voted using an electronic button attached to a score-keeping box. At the end of each round of images, we had to break a few ties, and select images for 1st through 5th places with one runner-up. Then we were encouraged to take the microphone and give feedback on the winning prints.

That's myself and Stephen on the right side of this picture. All photos in this blog taken by Jess Baligush- the newest member of the balance photo team!

Overall, we had a great time and were very impressed with the photographs produced by the Baltimore Camera Club. The Club has been around since 1884 and is the oldest Camera Club in the United States today.

They embrace all photographers - from absolute beginner to seasoned expert and offer something for everyone. Meetings are free to attend, however to enter competitions or attend lectures, there is a $50.00 membership fee per year. It's a steal, really! Check out their upcoming programs on their website schedule.

The Baltimore Camera Club meet every Thursday at Mount Washington United Methodist Church, 5800 Cottonworth Ave. Baltimore MD 21209. It's just near the Whole Foods in Mt. Washington and there's plenty of free parking.

We love the Baltimore Camera Club - it's exciting to see the passion other photographers have for our art form and encourage them to grow and keep learning more of their craft.

Thanks for having us back! ~ Rissa

Be Selfish about it...

2012-01-25T08:50:00.009-05:00

Last Sunday the American Visonary Arts Museum in Baltimore hosted The Annual State of Our Earth Eco Conference. We found out about it that morning - and after getting through a few appointments, we stopped by the AVAM.

When we rolled up, it looked like we were at a Toyota dealership - almost every car on the street was a Prius, with a few other hybrids mixed in. This must be the hallmark of an Eco Conference. And since we weren't sure whether or not we'd get to this event, I didn't bring a camera. Sigh. So the images below were shot with my cell phone. Not exactly up to the usual standards, but hopefully you'll still get the idea of the thing.

Inside there were about a dozen vendor tables with varied local artisan goods, books, fair trade coffee & tea, and information on conservation. Two of my favorite tables were the National Aquarium's and another called Cloud 9.

The Aquarium table had loads of information available on the oceans and fish life, as well as real life steps that everyday people can make to help save the world's waters. You can visit them online and learn more - or take a day and go visit the Aquarium in downtown Baltimore.

On a totally different note was Cloud 9 Raw Chocolate. Nathaniel & I stopped back at this table several times - the samples were delicious. Created by Baltimore local Jennifer Popken, raw chocolate is rich with antioxidants - over 25,200! Jennifer crafts her tasty treats with raw, organic chocolate beans, cacao butter, coconut butter, coconut nectar, sea salt, vanilla, dates and raw seeds & nuts. We were instant fans.

Aside from the trade show tables, though, was the heart of AVAM's Eco Conference: the incredible and varied speakers. With over a dozen to choose from, we were able to sit on only a few. The presenters we heard were Susan Shaw, Marine Toxicologist & Director of the Marine Emvironmental Research Institute; John Racanelli, CEO of the National Aquarium; Shira Kramer, PhD, Epidemiologist; and Dr. Sandra Steingraber, Biologist & Keynote Speaker.

To repeat all the hard-hitting facts they shared would take many, many blogs posts. Plus their research is theirs to put out there, not mine. However, I took a few notes on a few of the more hard-hitting facts:

~ Most people discuss trying to "save the planet" for the sake of the environment. But the reality is that we need to save the environment for the sake of humanity. The Earth has survived four extinction events already, and it will go on whether or not people survive.

~ Many fish are more sustainable dining options than poultry or beef. Try red striped bass, mahi-mahi or catfish for an eco-friendly meal.

~ Taking small steps everyday can help save the environment. Doing things like using cold water for laundry and dishwashers, and selecting biodegradable detergents goes a long way to helping preserve waterways.

~ Stop using plastic bags, plastic ear swabs and plastic water bottles. Do it cold turkey. This step will help make huge strides in saving waterways - thus assuring there will be fresh water for all life on Earth for generations to come.

~ In 1970, humans created 1 million tons of chemical waste; in 2000, humans made 400 million tons of chemical waste.

~ There are just over 100,000 known chemical compounds being made today. The World Health Organization has only tested 900 of those for safety; out of that 900 in the tests, 400 chemical compounds were found to be cancer-causing in humans and animals. To date, that leaves 99,100 chemical untested - but still in daily use in our homes, food, and environment.

~ The effects of various chemicals on human health are multi-generation. Some chemicals can alter human (and animal) genetics forever, almost always for the worst. Effects of these chemicals include childhood/adult cancer, asthma, auto-immune disorders, miscarriage/ birth defects, autism and diabetes. Some of the same chemicals never decompose or go away - once made, they are with us on Earth permanently.

~ Over half of the world's oxygen is made by plants in the ocean: plankton. As the ocean heats up, the plankton dies and there's no more air for mammals to breathe. At the current time, there is 40% less plankton in the ocean than there was 20 years ago. It has been "cooked" to death by the rising ocean temperature.

~ Americans often state that our economy would collapse without fossil fuels - that it was built on fossil fuels. However, the American economy has survived major change before. In its early days, the American economy was built on slavery. Not a proud moment for any of us. However, the economy rebounded and grew strong again - without the use of slaves. Who is to say that an economy built on wind and solar power many not be even better than the current model?

~ The public commonly thinks that fixing the environment will be the next generation's dilemma. But if you are a parent, grandparent, older sister/brother, aunt or uncle - look across the dinner table at the child in front of you. It is that child who you need to take action for. If you don't, it will not be too many years into the future that you will hear them ask: Why didn't you do more? How could you let this happen?

Of course, the message of the day was clear. We all need to personally take responsibility and save the planet for ourselves. Each speaker we heard still had hope, but they all impressed a sense of urgency.

So do what you can. Not because you're a dirty hippie; not for any political reason - do it because you want to have a nice, clean planet to live on.

Be selfish about your planet.

~ Rissa

Welcome to the Cafe...

2012-01-11T09:22:00.003-05:00

Big news in our boudoir category. It is moving out from this blog into a space all it's own!

balance boudoir is becoming Cafe Boudoir in 2012 and will now live at http://www.cafe-boudoir.com online with a dedicated blog at http://cafeboudoir.wordpress.com

It's the same awesome team of myself, Brittany and the stylists from Up Do's for I Do's. We're just making a few changes for the better. I think you're going to love it.

To get things going, we are launching with a Valentine's Day special! Something to warm up his chilly February...

See you at the Cafe...

~Rissa

Hit Me Baby One More Time -

2011-07-12T11:27:00.003-04:00

You asked, you emailed, you called.

And we are going to do it again, just for you.

On August 28th, balance boudoir will host another set of Mini-Boudoir sessions with Up Do's for I Do's. Exactly the same as before.

This will be the last boudoir sale offered before the holidays, and only one space is left.

Got questions? Shoot me an email ~ Rissa

We love Gossip

2011-07-02T12:05:00.004-04:00

They love to talk. And we love when they are out there talking about us.

Check out these fun blog posts about balance boudoir ...

On June 20th, the ladies at Bayside Bride posted "Boudoir for the Everyday Woman" with an interview and one of our images. Looks great!

And Alexandra Webb, a Baltimore jeweler and artist keeps a very cool blog called "Inspired Details" for brides to find ideas for their day. She featured us over two days on June 28th and June 29th. The posts were called "Interview with balance boudoir" and also include a bunch of our photographs!

Thanks Ladies, for making balance boudoir part of your blogs! We love it!

~ Rissa

Get Down on It

2011-05-02T16:36:00.002-04:00

It's your lucky day, ladies.

You've gotta get down on this... our first EVER sale on boudoir shoots.

One day only...

Here are all the gritty details:

Sunday May 22nd

3 mini-session appointment times remain as of this posting

$275 check/credit card or $225 cash

Each appointment includes a one-hour shoot, at the studio with Rissa & Brittany and hair & make-up by the incredible Ashley Riddle, owner and head stylist from Up Do's for I Do's.

Every girl gets a private, password-protected website to check out her proofs - at least 40 images online, snacks and wine and two professionally retouched images from the shoot - as well as 10% off any a la carte display prints or albums for 90 days

It's the perfect thing for a wedding gift, anniversary, birthday

- or just to do something fun and pampering for yourself!

To see more images, visit us in the boudoir. Or drop me an email if you'd like more info or to book your session!

~ Rissa

Our Eco Chic Wedding Showcase

2011-02-17T23:37:00.006-05:00

Okay girls, it's that time again. Yea, we are in the middle of wedding show madness, and yea, there are loads of wedding shows out there. But only one is GREEN and eco-friendly. And only one is co-produced by balance photography: The Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase. Last year's event was a huge success - several hundred people attended to meet the area's most eco-friendly wedding and event vendors.

This year sees the return of our swag bags - chock full of goodies for the first 100 brides, as well as the incredible door prizes!

We will have plenty of free food and drink again - from fab coffee and Honest Tea to organic/local wine and beer - as well as plenty of delish food and cake samples.

And of course, we will once again host the Eco Fashion Show! Nearly one hundred green and vintage designs will strut our catwalk, worn by gorgeous professional models. Check our dresses for your maids and flower girls too!

Get your tickets now - the show is next week!

See you there ~ Rissa

Winning Ways

2011-01-28T16:12:00.005-05:00

We work hard here at balance photo - and we deeply appreciate that you - our clients - love us for that.

How do we know?

Cuz you voted us to the top, baby!

We recently heard that we won listing on The Knot's Best-of as well as the top 5% in the country from Weddingwire.com's Bride Choice Awards.

So thank you, truly, to all the brides and grooms who took the time to go online and vote for us. We love knowing how much you adore your pictures - we are so grateful for you!

~Rissa

For Free, Babe!

2011-01-22T14:53:00.009-05:00

Okay girls - everyone loves FREE. And I have something FREE to give you.

We have six tickets for the Great Room Bridal Showcase at Savage Mill on Sunday January 30 from noon to 3pm at 8600 Foundry Street, Savage MD 20763. Each one is worth $10, if you were to buy them at the door.

And we have ten tickets for The Baltimore Bridal Showcase on Saturday February 5 from 5pm to 9pm and Sunday Febraury 6 from 11am to 4pm, at the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West Pratt Street, Baltimore MD. Each one is worth $10 if you were to buy them at the door.

I'll give 'em away to the first brides who send me a message on Facebook or email me at balancephotography@gmail.com - let me know how many tickets you want and for which show, too, please!

Woo-hoo!

~ Rissa

New year, new beginnings, new ... wedding shows

2011-01-13T17:50:00.004-05:00

Welcome to 2011 - and welcome back to wedding show season. We're grabbing our albums and making the scene at these wedding shows this year. Getting married? Wedding shows are SO much fun - come get down on all those gorgeous cake samples. And come talk to us -

January 11, 2011, The Baltimore Museum of Industry Annual Bridal Show, 1415 Key Highway, Baltimore MD 21230, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm; free admission for brides

January 21, 2011, The Bridal Extravaganza at Turf Valley, 2700 Turf Valley Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042, from from 5pm to 7pm with dinner and runway fashion display from 7pm to 10pm; $28 per person

January 30, 2011, The Great Room Bridal Showcase at Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry Street, Savage MD 20763 from noon to 3pm; $5 per person in advance, $10 at the door

February 5 and 6, The Baltimore Bridal Showcase, Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West Pratt Street, Baltimore MD, from 5pm to 9pm on Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sunday; $8 tickets online in advance, $10 at the door

February 20, 2011, Sheraton Baltimore North Winter Bridal Showcase, 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson MD 21204, from noon to 3pm; admission free for brides, all others $5

February 27, 2011, The 2nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase, University of Maryland, College Park MD from 1pm to 5pm; tickets $10 in advance, $20 at the door

April 10, 2011, Historic Oakland's Bridal Showcase, 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columba MD 21044, from 1:30pm to 4:30pm; $10 in advance, $15.00 at the door

See you there!

~ Rissa

Gorgeous Green

2010-08-27T15:17:00.002-04:00

Here at balance, we are big fans of the Green Bride Guide. Author Kate Harrison and her staff of dedicated writers and designers do a terrific job making eco-friendly wedding/event options accessible and affordable to everyone. We had the pleasure of meeting Kate at last winter's Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase and she even autographed my copy of her book!

Well, as it turns out, one of the bloggers at the GBG is a fan of balance, too!

We were super excited recently to be included in Stephanie's blog about vintage birdcage veils. She used the images below, which were shot last year. All those incredible hairstyles were by Ashley Riddle, of Up Do's for I Do's fame, and the veils all came from our fave Ellicott City vintage shop, Retropolitan.

And then we were asked to submit a photo of the week, too, to be included on the cover of the website. Woo-hoo! This week's theme was beach weddings. Below are happy couple Derrick and Heather, who got married in Costa Rica! Heather's dress was gently used and her flowers were picked by the roadside. Supa green!

Thanks Stephanie & everyone at the Green Bride Guide for including balance on your site!

~ Rissa

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

2010-08-26T13:12:00.003-04:00

We're taking our show back on the road, and we will be at the T.Rose International Bridal Show this weekend at the Pikesville Hilton, 1726 Reisterstown Rd., Baltimore MD 21208, from noon to 4pm.

Brides can meet all sorts of wedding pros (including balance!), attend planning seminars, watch a bridal fashion show, sample delish cake and other goodies and enter to win a free honeymoon!

Tickets are $7.50 in advance and $10 at the door. Visit the T. Rose Management website for details or to buy your tickets!

See you there!

~Rissa

May Eternal

2010-05-28T16:39:00.005-04:00

Sometimes it doesn't really feel like all that long ago when Nathaniel and I were high school seniors, preparing for our individual graduations, ready to take on the world.

I mean, it was a good bit ago. More than 15 years. Gosh - where does the time go?

Still, so many things about May seem eternal. And graduates are one of them. All over you see cards and gifts for grads - and picture frames with one of two things - the cheesy shot where you are shaking the hand of your principal or dean, clutching your dipoma. Yes we both have those photos too - the ones you buy from the school or college as a 5x7 and hope you aren't blinking as you reach for the diploma. I'm not even sure where mine are... maybe at my parents' house someplace...

Or the other ultimate high school photo - your senior picture, which was likely taken the summer or fall before your senior year.

I am so ancient - my senior photos were nothing at all like the totally cool senior photos people get now. I had a black velvet drape on and one pose/one shot. It was not cute. These were the days of film photos - there was no magical Photoshop to erase blemishes or stray hairs.

Things improved a little in the five years until it was time for Nathaniel to have his senior photos... just look at these beauties. We have this little number proudly on display in the office. My favorite waivers between the shot of him in overalls posing with the large "98" and the all-white suit. And the marble-texture folio is also a fabulous thing! : )

Things really have improved since then. Thank goodness. Nowadays senior photos look more like fashion pictures than painful, stilted studio shots. And do they even make those big corny dates for seniors to pose on anymore? I hope not!

Last week, Nathaniel's cousin Jesse graduated from high school. It's crazy - I remember when I was taller than Jesse. It just doesn't seem that long ago and now Jesse is six feet tall and a high school grad, getting ready to start college this fall in Tennessee.

Anyhow... as I sit here typing this blog, our assistant Jacqueline is getting ready to leave for the day - heading to her little brother Sam's high school graduation in Howard County. Hopefully Sam keeps his eyes open when he shakes hands with the principal tonight for that photo op. : )

One day, not too long from now - I hope Jesse and Sam can look back and remember their senior year and graduation as one of those awesome milestones and truly cherish the memory. And hopefully, they also have some silly senior photos and hand-shake shots to mark the occasion.

Congrats to all the grads of 2010 - we wish you all your dreams come true ~

Rissa

Getting some Ink

2010-05-28T16:37:00.005-04:00

There is little we can compare to the honor of being trusted to document someone's wedding day. It is beyond simply flattering - it is like begin trusted to be part of someone's family for a very, very important event. Not much comes close to this kind of compliment from a client or a friend - it makes all of our clients our friends.

One thing that is even more exciting, though, is when our couples love their images so much, they want to share them with the whole world. Or at least the magazine-reading public. That's just what Ashley & Decker did with their October 2009 wedding.

Ashley & Decker were married on Decker's family farm in Franklin, TN during a beautiful fall day. The couple had a southern-style farm wedding, complete with floral arrangements in ball jars, homemade benches as ceremony pews and a live country band providing the entertainment. The bride's something blue was the blue stitching on her cowboy boots under a J. Crew gown.

Their vision caught the eye of editors at At Home Tennessee magazine - and a two page feature was published in February 2010! We loved the big portrait of Ashley & Decker walking on the path near the farm, especially.

Congrats again to you both, and thanks for loving your pictures enough to share them with the whole world!

~ Rissa

We were heading down the road...

2010-05-28T16:36:00.001-04:00

and we saw the whole world roll out before us. Literally.

It was the World Guy and he was passing through Maryland.

World Guy's name is Erik Bendl. He and his dog, Nice (who was very nice, I must say), were walking through Maryland earlier this month and we crossed paths with him on the way to a shoot. Erik has walked over a thousand miles for the cause of diabetes awareness and this year he is traveling through the northeastern states. His walk began around Earth Day in Washington DC, where his large Earth Ball was a popular attraction. He's heading north now, towards Maine.

We enjoyed stopping to chat with Erik and Nice. They were both great and Erik shared a lot of his personal experience with us from his journeys across America. He has seen miles and miles of our beautiful land on foot - experiencing places and people in a way few of us ever will.

To make it even more incredible - Erik also blogs from his walks daily - typing it all up on a Blackberry. All I can say is wow- typing on those tiny keys makes him worthy of a medal or something! Nevermind the incredible feat of walking thousands of miles to raise awareness about diabetes and exercise.

You can visit Erik online at his blog, or friend him on Facebook to follow his adventures, learn more about his cause or just see if he will be crossing paths with you - so you can visit with him too.

Erik and Nice - we wish you safe travels! It was great to meet you and I hope your journey is a successful one!

~Rissa

Charming

2010-05-28T16:35:00.004-04:00

In a world that is overwhelmed with images, it can be challenging sometimes to keep the photos you love best close to you to enjoy. So, why not just wear them?

For several years we searched for an artist who made photo jewelry. We found a few, but no one whose work really resonated with the pictures we created. We were searching for someone special, who we could collaborate with, who our vision meshed with. And along came Lori. She is an artist based in Canada and the minute I saw her charms, I knew it was going to be a perfect match.

Lori makes photo charms in a process using thin pieces of polymer clay. Each charm is individually hand-crafted and one of kind. They are lightweight and easy to change from one necklace to another.

Here are some of the pieces she has done for us...

This piece is a square charm, about 1 inch by 1 inch, on a pink ribbon necklace. The photo - adorable 10 month old Brooke. Modeled by our fab assistant Brittany.

A charm bracelet!!! Tell the entire story of your wedding or family with a full set of photo charms. These small charms are all under one inch, with some in rectangle and square shapes and some in color and others in black & white. They are shown on a vintage link chain with a variety of metal heart charms. The bracelet has 9 photo charms and 4 heart charms, showing the stunning wedding of Amy & Bryan; modeled again by Brittany.

A rectangular charm featuring an elegant bridal portrait of Rebecca from her destination wedding in New Orleans. Shown on a black cord necklace; modeled by Brittany.

Sometimes a simple picture of a beautiful subject, like flowers or a bouquet is a perfect charm. Shown on a vintage link chain, displayed again by Brittany.

A quiet moment from Justin and Gretchen's Costa Rica wedding looks gorgeous and sentimental on this charm. Shown on a sterling silver rope chain; modeled by Brittany.

And our other terrific models - Miss Brooke Taylor - checking out her mom Ashley's new circular charm - featuring a photo of Brooke Taylor! We loved how great Ashley looked showing off her new charm with her daughter on it. Looks like Brooke Taylor liked it, too!

We are super jazzed to be offering these unique artisan-made charms to you, our clients. You now have a whole new option, a new way to keep your pictures close to your heart and with you always. This is way beyond wallet photos! It's absolutely charming! (Sorry, I had to say it!: )

~ Rissa

Saving the Earth=Business as Usual

2010-04-22T21:46:00.019-04:00

Some things about making your business - and your life - greener are really easy.

As traditional light bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent. Recycle paper, glass, metals. Buy recycled paper products for office & home. Use recycled paper business cards. Compost food waste. Use cloth bags at the grocery store & for other shopping. This is all good stuff - and everyone knows it. Hopefully everyone does it, this is the easy stuff that makes a big difference for us all.But what about when you begin to get into other more job-specific areas to photography... like the cases you deliver discs in to clients? That's a little trickier.

Oddly, client often have strong opinions about CD/DVD cases. We have tried different things over the years and some have been more popular than others. One or two clients have called to tell us that even though they loved their pictures, they didn't like the disc case it came in. A few others have called to tell us they loved their disc cases. Go figure. So we try, try again and hope everyone likes the cases their photos discs arrive in.

And now, we are going to green our CD cases. Hopefully everyone likes the new lines as much as we do... Introducing the better, greener CD cases!

First, we want to show off the new disc cases we will be using for our brides and grooms. These are stunners.

These incredible CD/DVD cases are handcrafted by a company called Loktah using organic paper and beads, harvested from sustainable sources. The covers of each case are coated in beeswax to preserve the quality of the the handmade paper and Loktah products are all archival quality. We love these new cases for our wedding clients. They are an elegant and green way to store your memories of your perfect day. (As a sidenote: the Loktah cases were

photographed by our new assistant, Jacqueline! Great work!)

Not getting married? No worries - we have other eco-friendly cases for you!

We are also trying out a few other new disc delivery cases and envelopes. 100% recycled paper hard-side envelopes and plastic cases will be delivered to headshot, commercial and family/pet clients. They aren't as glam as the cases we got for the wedding clients, but hey - you only get married once. The paper and plastic cases are durable and can be reused by you - our clients - after you have safely stored your discs. So share the love and get loads of use out of your new green case as you share photos, files and music with friends and family.

A little flashier.. little sexier - disc delivery for my boudoir clients. Boudoir pictures will be delivered in bi-metal cases - which means you can recycle them if you don't want/need to reuse them. But they are so sleek - they look super cool. Why not find another use for them - like holding small jewelry or even on your desk for paperclips?

We are always on the lookout for new and awesome green products... if you see a better disc delivery case in your eco-travels, please tell us. We want to know!

A friend recently told us about a 20-disc CD case and matching 36-print photo album made of recycled aluminum with a recycled rubber closure. Super fun - you have to check it out! What a great way to store prints and discs.

And hey - while we are talking green (it is Earth Day today, after all) - we'd love to share a few of our favorite green office supply companies with you... use them at your workplace, too! Help save the Earth, doing business as usual.

Greenline Paper Company, fast service, great products for the office, like mailers, pens, etc.

Greenerprinter, incredibly professional- reasonable prices on recycled paper biz cards

Green House Framing, stunning handmade frames from recycled materials

Sustainable Websites, power your website with wind energy

CD Recycling Center, dispose of old discs responsibly

Rapid Refill, reuse ink cartridges and save landfill space

Looking for more green options for your home or business? Check out Green America or Treehugger. They really have it all. Planning a green wedding or special event? Be sure to visit Green Bride Guide, of course! And then swing by Eco-Beautiful Weddings, a new e-zine.

Happy Earth Day, everyone ~

Rissa

Celebrate Earth Day -Be Stylish

2010-04-19T20:11:00.006-04:00

Accessories are fun. Who doesn't love purses and necklaces and bracelets. I sure do. And why not make them eco-friendly as well?

At the Green Wedding Showcase in February, we had the luck to meet Reena, the woman behind Washington DC's noted green gift & accessory company Eco-Artware.com. She has been selling environmentally friendly and chic goodies since 1999 ~ well before it was mainstream to be green.

Eco-Artware.com is a web-based gallery of unique, well-made, sustainable and environmentally friendly gifts featuring the original work of over 25 artists who are committed to sustainable living and utilize green mediums. The company has been featured in Time, Good Housekeeping, USA Today, Body+Soul, Planet Green, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications. Reena is on a mission to be spread the word that gifts can be beautiful, well-made, eco-friendly and within a person's budget. We are on board with that!

Recently balance had the chance to photograph some new items for the Eco-Artware.com website. The always fabulous Ashley Riddle (from UpDo's for I Do's) was our model that afternoon.

This is the Eco Mini Bag. The front compartment closes with Velcro and is the perfect size for a cell phone or camera. We are partial to using it for a camera. : ) Mini bags are made from recycled plastic sacks used to carry 100 pounds of rice to market in the Philippines. The graphic design on each mini bag is unique because the Filipino craftswomen reuse every part of the sack to minimize waste.

The Recycled Rice Sack Sport Pouch, aka "the anti-fanny pack", is adjustable to fit over your shoulder, across your chest or around your waist and lays flat. Pouches are lined with eco-friendly material and feature four zipped pockets — three outside and one inside. Perfect for carrying all your stuff to work - or somewhere more fun.

This funky hand-woven clutch was once juice packs! How creative!

Shimmery beaded bangles are made from recycled glass beads and strung on recycled wire. Perfect for any occasion, really - from jeans to office to fancy dress!

A statement piece for the fashion-forward: the tagua nut necklace. Grown in Colombia, Tagua nuts are gathered as they fall to the ground, enabling them to be harvested without disturbing the palm tree from which they came. Next the nuts are dried, painted and then strung on sturdy cotton thread, with knots between them, for added durability. Each necklace is crafted of whole tagua nuts that average 1" wide. When strung together, they make a bold statement in a burst of bright color that can be worn year round.

There are also cool men's accessories as well. Here Nathaniel is wearing cufflinks with his initials, made from recycled typerwriter keys. These look so cool on French cuff shirts. He wears this all the time. Love it!

So there's no reason not to get your shop on this Earth Day - just do it at Eco-Artware.com to find some of the most upscale upcycling available anywhere!

~ Rissa

Left Stronger

2010-04-19T19:28:00.006-04:00

While we are best known for our beautiful weddings, sexy boudoir picts and elegant portraits ~ balance has range. Plenty of range. In fact, we recently did some promo picts for a great Baltimore band called Leftstronger.

Leftstronger is an amazing band that performs all original music in the style of Alice in Chains, Shinedown, Creed and Soundgarden. We had the chance to preview their album "So Close" at the studio before the shoot and we loved it. The sound is like something you'd hear on the radio and sing your heart out to while you're driving your car.

From their website: Leftstronger's music combines all the elements of great, radio-friendly rock and roll: catchy hooks, hard-driving rhythms and strong vocal harmonies. Singer/song writer, Jesse Magee uses his amazing vocal range to dramatic effect and has been said to be the best singer on the East Coast. Jesse's songs all have meaning, so they resonate with fans after only one play. The memorable melodies are enhanced by the guitar solos of the extraordinary Rob Holt and drum solos by award winning percussionist, Eric Steven. Jesse and Rob performed in front of 60,000 people for the largest Earth Day Festival in the nation at the National Mall in DC. Leftstronger has performed many times at excellent venues in the Baltimore/DC Area, including headlining Rams Head LIVE! …always with an incredible response!

Jesse, the lead singer and songwriter has accomplished all this and more despite his personal challenges of being legally blind and having cerebral palsy on his right side. His talent speaks for itself and nothing will stand in his way of his success and being a role model for others.

From left to right... Rob Holt, Jesse Magee, Eric Steven and Spencer Jozwiak.

You can visit the guys on Myspace or You Tube or check out their interview on ABC Channel 2.

Leftstronger has played many of the clubs with in Baltimore. All players are in their 20's and extremely professional, dedicated and reliable. The band is awesome ...with Jesse at the helm, his amazing song writing and vocals, range and pitch-that are rarely heard in this area.

We had a fantastic time working with the guys at their shoot! Definitely check out their free downloads online!

You can hear them live at Rock in My Town on Friday, May 14, 2010 at the Timonium State Fairgrounds. Be sure to check the Leftstronger website for more details!

Wishing you guys all the very best!

~ Rissa

Cocktails for Earth Day. Right On.

2010-04-17T15:51:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone - This Thursday the 22nd is EARTH DAY! So raise a glass... join us at Green Drinks in Annapolis.

All the details are below, reposted from the Annapolis Green Drinks Website...

See you there!

~ Rissa

April Green Drinks
Our Second Annual Green Drinks for the Chesapeake Bay

Thursday, April 22, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Severn Inn, 1993 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard, Annapolis

On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, Green Drinks chapters throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed will come together for the second annual Green Drinks for the Chesapeake Bay to concentrate on action our grass roots movement can take to influence to legislation and government regulation to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay -- while having fun with our eco-awareness, of course. Annapolis Green Drinks and Virginia Beach Green Drinks are the at the helm of the coordinated "toast" and call to action, with each Green Drinks group from Pennsylvania to Virginia meeting simultaneously on the 22nd each in its respective location.

The effort also is an attempt to top the Green Drinks world attendance record of 1800 people, currently held by a group in Melbourne, Australia.

Green Drinks Annapolis is returning to the Severn Inn for its event, where we hope to top last year's single group attendance and the watershed-wide number of 1200 that we gathered in 2009!

Call to Action The Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2009, now working its way through Congress, has been called by many the last, best hope for restoration of our national treasure. We are going to use the powerful grass roots networking of Green Drinks to help move this bill along to passage.

We Green Drinkers will add our unique voice to the fight for restoration of the Chesapeake Bay by enlisting our colleagues, friends and family all across the country to obtain votes for the bill's passage in Congress - and we'll have fun doing it too!

The Chesapeake is as important and wonderful a national treasure as the Grand Canyon, the Smoky Mountains, the Badlands of South Dakota, the Everglades or Death Valley. It is tied directly to our early history as a Nation, and it is the largest estuary in the country. It is the heart of our local heritage and it is dying. Also, this legislation is important to all Americans because it will impact other bodies of water too.

Bring Your Friends to Green Drinks! Green Drinks at the beautiful and beautifully located Severn Inn is sure to be loads of fun! We'll have much more info on the actual event in our next email. There will be door prizes and other surprises for you!

Tastes Great

2010-04-08T22:52:00.007-04:00

When you live in Catonsville, you absolutely know about this one fabulous thing that happens in mid-April every year... the Taste of Catonsville. All the different restaurants and cafes all over town get together at the Rolling Road Golf Club for one evening and show off their finest entrees, desserts and other wonderful treats. Sigh... if only it happened every week!

The crowd packed into last year's event.

The Taste of Catonsville really has something for everyone. There are plenty of soups and appetizers, seafood offerings, hearty meats, vegetarian dishes, ethnic food, delectable desserts, pastries and more.

Salmon dish from Overhills Mansion/Whitehouse Catering.

Yummy desserts and cake from Baker's Park.

Scones and coffee from Atwater's.

This year the Taste of Catonsville will be on Monday April 19th, from 5pm to 7:30pm. It doesn't matter that it's a Monday night - the only way it will interfere with work on Tuesday is if you're still too full to move the next morning. I mean, it could happen. The experience of eating food from all those restaurants is pretty intense.

So skip lunch that Monday and leave plenty of room for the Taste of Catonsville. The event will be at the Rolling Road Golf Club, 814 Hilltop Rd., Catonsville Maryland. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Buy in advance from the Chamber of Commerce.

See you there!

~ Rissa

Doing Double Time

2010-04-08T21:13:00.010-04:00

When it comes to weddings, we rarely break the rules. Not that we have a lot of them - but one is we never double up on being in a wedding party of a friend/family member AND doing the photography. It's a big commitment to do either thing, and we never want to be stretched beyond where we can do our very best for friends and family.

This is a rule we have held fast to through thick and thin - until this spring. One of my oldest, dearest and closest friends asked me for this - to be a bridesmaid and to document her wedding. Her name is Leslie and she is a fabulous writer living a fabulous life in southern Florida. We have been friends for over 15 years - since we were both young reporters at the York Dispatch newspaper.

Leslie could have asked any number of photographers to do her wedding - she probably knows about 100 zillion and is like a local celeb in southern Florida. But the begging and pleaded started... please do both.

So, we did it. I was a bridesmaid for the very first time. And toted a camera as well - in heels, make-up, fancy hairdo and bridesmaid dress. I'm sure it was a hilarious thing to see. Thank heavens Nathaniel was working too - three inch stilettos and an above-the-knee hemline slowed me down ever so slightly from my usual shooting style. (Tip for my other brides - please don't ask me to shoot your wedding in heels! It's not comfy!)

Leslie married Scott - who she knew in high school in Baltimore, but reconnected with on Facebook in the past few years. They are the cutest couple and Nathaniel & I are sooo happy for them both! Two wonderful people who deserve a long, happy life together!

They were married on a perfect sunny Florida afternoon at the gorgeous Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. Here are some picts from their day...

The Colony Hotel was the ceremony & reception site, and did all the catering.

In addition to which the Colony was a gorgeous backdrop for pictures!

This is my fave picture of Leslie... she looks like a movie star!

Adorable flower girl. : ) And all the bridemaids had different dresses in Leslie's two favorite colors:

pink and purple.

Mazel Tov!

One of my favorite parts of any wedding are the unexpected emotional moments - like here when Leslie got a big hug from her mom just before getting her hair & make-up done. So sweet!

Leslie's veil, from Etsy.

And I LOVE shoes. Shoes, shoes, shoes. Can someone have an addiction to shoes?

Maybe I have that...

Leslie's shoes were Chinese Laundry. Shown with her bracelet and ring.

Breaking the rules sometimes is worth it. As you can see. Not all lifetime relationships are with the person you marry. Some are with your dearest friends - they are the family you choose to spend your days with, the women you love like sisters. The people you break the rules for.

Leslie and Scott had a really beautiful wedding, surrounded by friends and family that loved and adored them as much as we do. It was amazing to be part of it ~ as a photographer there to document their memories, as a bridesmaid to stand by Leslie's side, and as a friend to someone who has been by my side for much of my life ~ for better and worse, in good times and in bad. Only for a great friend - one of the best women I have ever known - would I make the choice to break those rules and be both bridesmaid and photographer.

We wish you both a world of happiness together, Leslie and Scott!

Big hugs and love always ~ Rissa

The ingredients of Leslie and Scott's Day:

Venue & Catering: The Colony Hotel, Palm Beach, FL

Planner: Kim Walsh Phillips

Flowers: Seed to Flower

DJ: Tim Foley

Officiant: Rev. Paul Underhay

Hair and Make-up: Britney Walton of Puyre Salon

Ceremony Musicians: Louis Johnson, New York, and Melanie Hood Wilson, Baltimore

Dress/Veil: Dress, Distinctive Designs Bridal, Rockville, Md. (owned by a former contestant on "The Apprentice"); Veil, Etsy

Rehearsal Dinner: Havana Hideout (as seen on Food Network)

Everyone Loves Wedding Cake

2010-04-08T20:55:00.004-04:00

Everyone knows we love going to wedding shows. And one of our annual favorites is about to happen this weekend: The Bridal Showcase at Historic Oakland in Columbia, MD.

Beautiful August bride Carrie is walked to her ceremony on side-garden at Historic Oakland by her dad.

If you've never been to Oakland, it's absolutely worth a visit as one of the most important preserved historic sites in Howard County. The house itself is so gorgeous. It was originally built in 1811. Inside there are majestic fireplaces, a ballroom and two dramatic staircases. An incredible backdrop for a wedding, rehearsal dinner or bridal tea! Oakland is also home to the Maryland Museum of African Art, which is definitely deserving of a visit.

The Bridal Showcase this weekend is on Sunday April 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vendors from the Baltimore/Washington area will be on hand to display their specialties. We have been part of the event every year for five years in a row - and we're always in the tent on the patio. So please stop in and say hello! And hey - don't forget the best part of wedding shows - wedding cake samples! Even the most manly groom will be agreeable to that!

The cost is $10.00 for advance ticket purchase and $15.00 for tickets purchased at the door. For further information or to purchase tickets, please call 410-730-4801 or 800-730-4802. Historic Oakland is located at 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia, Maryland, 21044.

~ Rissa

Up in the Air

2010-03-20T23:04:00.004-04:00

It's spring at last. Seeing the town almost seem to stretch and wake up is one of the best parts of the year. Trees have tightly rolled green buds, daffodils are opening up. All those mountains of gray, mucky snow from January and February are finally gone (almost). And we're so excited to see the world come alive again!

If you happen to be walking around downtown Catonsville, enjoying the warmer weather, look up in the air. You'll see us - well, sort of.

There are banners waving proudly all up & down the "Main Street" part of Frederick Rd. in Catonsville - with photos by balance on them! And the pictures are quite delicious, if we say so ourselves.

You can see fresh produce, flowers and more from the Catonsville Farmer's Market, which happens from May to November - and this year will be held on Sunday (starting May 16th) and Wednesday (starting May 5th) each week! Be sure to make room in your schedule to stop by the market and check out all the fabulous local veggies, fruits, plants, cheeses, meats and more. During the summer months, we barely shop at the supermarket - the farmer's market has just about everything you need!

The rest of the images are dishes and goodies from the Taste of Catonsville event, which will be happening this year on April 19, from 5pm to 7:30pm at the Rolling Road Golf Club, 814 Hilltop Rd in Catonsville. At the Taste of Catonsville, local chefs and eateries show off their finest to attendees ~ and they kick off the annual Restaurant Week Celebration in Catonsville.

This is a salad from Duesenberg's American Cafe & Grille.

Signs with balance's photos span several blocks of Frederick Rd., showing off goods from the Catonsville Farmer's Market as well as the delicacies offered by local eateries at the Taste of Catonsville event.

Delectable pastries from Sugarbakers.

Fresh mums from the Catonsville Farmer's Market are on a banner outside of the new Atwater's location.

A tasty squash adorns this banner posted at the corner of Frederick Rd & Bloomsbury Ave., just outside of El Nayar.

We love spring walks around Catonsville, too. Not just because the town is full of giant banners of our company's pictures, all with our studio's name on them. That doesn't hurt, of course - we love seeing them. But we love spring too! It's great, getting out and about with our hound dog, Lochrima, and feeling the air get warm again.

Lochrima and Nathaniel

So come take a walk around Catonsville. Enjoy the spring flowers, stop in for lunch at one of the town's many yummy restaurants. And when you look up, look for balance.

~ Rissa

Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase

2010-02-13T11:52:00.004-05:00

So, sometime last spring, we had this idea, this little thought that kept rattling around. We had just come through the January to April wedding-show season, and we couldn't believe how incredibly non-green these events were. Bags full of paper flyers, food samples, spilled, deserted cups of wine, overflowing trash cans everywhere, piles of empty plastic water bottles ~ about as non-green as the gas mileage of a Hummer.

We got to talking about it and shared the idea with green event planner extraordinaire, Lori Hill. Together, we decided we could do it better. We could produce a wedding show that would be green. It would present couples with great, creative ideas from eco-friendly vendors. We wouldn't allow piles of junk and paper to be pushed on the attendees. Waste would be composted or recycled. No plastic water bottles laying in giant piles on the floor, next to overflowing trash cans.

And that's how the Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase was born.

It's been a long road and we're super proud of the event the three of us have put together. There's an eco-fashion runway show with green, vintage and recycled gowns, sponsored by Aveda. There are vendors of every kind - from venues to caterers, to bakers to planners to florists who all work with wedding excellence and environmental responsibility in mind. We have fabulous sponsors on board like Honest Tea and Eco-Bar (organic cocktails, anyone?). And we have a ManCave for the guys - a special room away from the bridal hub-bub where we're serving beer and the big game will be playing on a big screen. Seriously, what not to love about all this?

Getting married? Stop by the show - it will be like nothing you have seen before in this region.

And say hi - we'll be there too, we'd love to see ya!

Here's the info to attend:

the Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase

February 21, 2001, 1pm to 5pm (fashion show @ 4pm)

Tickets: $15 online until midnight 2/19; $20 at the door

event at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumi Center on the University of MD campus, College Park

Be there or be square!

~ Rissa

Happy Sweet Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T10:11:00.007-05:00

Smooches for Valentine's Day! And what better way to say I love you than with something delicious, decadent and 100% homemade!

Nathaniel & I love working with chocolate. It's become a holiday tradition around here. We make all sorts of chocolate candy for different holidays. This year for Valentine's Day, we made dozens of truffles to share with our friends and family. And now we're gonna share them with you, too.

This year we made 8 kinds of truffles using the same basic recipes. The basic truffle ganache filling is very flexible in terms of flavor. You can leave it plain, which tastes wonderful, or you can add liqueur or extracts to flavor the filling. Some flavors we've used before... rum, blush wine, champagne, amaretto, port, brandy, Frangelico, Kahlua, Chambord, Bailey's Irish Cream, vanilla extract, coconut extract, mint extract, lemon extract, maple extract and orange extract. Try your favorite liqueur or extract! Beyond the basic ganache, there's a peanut butter truffle filling and a dairy-free one made with cashews you can try - both are also fab!

Making truffles isn't hard, but it does take strict attention. Chocolate can be fickle and hard to work with - so be patient and always keep the chocolate on low heat when you're melting it. Another tip - never add water to chocolate - they just don't mix! And don't expect your homemade candy to look like store bought truffles - those are made by machines or in molds. Yours will be hand-rolled and may look slightly irregular. They will taste yummy though!

Truffle Ganache Filling

1 cup of heavy cream

12 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces

3 Tbsp. liqueur of your choice or 2 Tbsp. flavor extract (optional, but good!)

Over a double boiler, warm the cream on low heat. Stir in all of the chocolate and liqueur until extremely smooth and all the chocolate has melted. This is the ganache filling. Pour the ganache into a shallow dish, like a casserole dish and chill in the fridge until set, about 3 or 4 hours.To form truffles, scoop one teaspoon of chilled ganache and roll it into a ball. You'll have to work quickly, or the heat from your hands will melt the chocolate.

Peanut Butter Truffle Filling

1 cup peanut butter chips (like Reese's)

3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 Tbsp. vanilla

Combine peanut butter chips, butter, vanilla and milk in the top level of a double boiler and warm gently over low heat. Melt together and stir until chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour into a low, flat dish, like a casserole and chill in the fridge about 3 to 4 hours, until the mixture is firm enough to handle. Roll into 1-teaspoon balls by hand. Work quickly, the mixture will be sticky and will melt quickly.

Dairy-Free Truffle Filling

3/4 cup unsalted or raw cashews

3/4 cup of cold water

16 oz. semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate (get a dairy free brand!)

Soak the cashews in the water for about an hour, then put water and cashews into a blender or food processor on high speed for about 2 minutes. It seems like a long time, but keep blending! The cashews will reach a delicious creamy texture and all the nut pieces will be completely broken down. Meanwhile, in the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate until it is smooth. Fold cashew cream into the melted chocolate until well mixed. Pour into a low, flat casserole and chill for about 2 hours until set. Roll mixture into small balls, working quickly, so the heat from your hands doesn't melt the chocolate.

There are two coating options for any type of truffles... if you haven't already eaten them as-is!

The first option is the easier one - roll the finished balls in cocoa powder, chopped nuts, graham cracker crumbs, shredded coconut, sprinkles, sugar crystals, powdered sugar or chocolate shavings. And that's it! Store in a cool place and serve at room temperature to your sweetie.

The second option is to coat the truffle in another layer of chocolate. To do this, chill the rolled truffles again, or even freeze them. Once they are really cool, add 16 oz. of semi-sweet, milk or white chocolate chips or melting discs (available at craft shops like Michael's) to the top level of a double boiler. If the chocolate gets thick, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil or shortening at a time, to thin it back out and make the coating chocolate glossy. Once the chocolate is smooth and melted, use a fork to dip the cooled truffle centers into it. Place them on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. If you want to add decoration to the coating chocolate, like sprinkles or cocoa, be sure to add it to the truffles while the chocolate is still wet, or it won't stik. Once the entire batch is done, let the 2nd layer of chocolate firm up in the fridge.

And then enjoy!!

~ Rissa

An evening of Wine, Women and Song

2009-10-12T23:07:00.005-04:00

The girls on the boudoir team are excited - we've got our stuff on display!

At the Wine Bin in Historic Ellicott City, that is.

All of October, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, balance boudoir is working with the good folks at the Wine Bin to raise money for SOS ~ Survivors Offering Support.

SOS is an all volunteer organization of Breast Cancer survivors who have dedicated a portion of their time to help recently diagnosed women through the ordeal of treatment and recovery. Each volunteer/mentor must complete a four step training process that begins at the hospital where doctors brief them on treatment options and the pathology of the disease. In addition, volunteers/mentors are required to obtain two releases from doctors stating they are emotionally prepared to support a newly diagnosed patient. The local SOS organization supports Howard County General Hospital (HCGH), The Center for Breast Care and the dedicated and gifted doctors and nurses who practice there. Each year more than 125 women undergo breast cancer surgery at HCGH. This program is supported by a grant from the Susan G. Komen Maryland Affiliate.

balance is proud to be donating a boudoir shoot to this important cause. Stop by the Wine Bin and make a bid in our silent auction for the shoot - you'll get the complete treatment: hair, make-up, pampering -as well as gorgeous, sexy rock star photo

s of yourself! And the entire amount raised will go to SOS! This is a shoot normally sold for $285.00 - and SOS will do a lot of good for women in need with those funds.

The Wine Bin will host Rissa and the rest of the team, including Ashley Riddle and the girls from Up Do's for I Do's on Thursday October 29th from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at an Artist's Reception. So stop by, meet the photographer - as well as the hair and makeup artists that will make you into a supermodel at your shoot. We're rarely together outside of shoots & weddings, so this is going to be a fun night - especially with wine involved!

Oh - there's more too!

Classical guitarist Christopher Dunn will be performing live all evening. Parfections Chocolatier will be showing off their new line of sensuous truffles (run, don't walk!); and the Wine Bin will also be hosting a "Meet the Wine Maker" event that night with Spencer Graham of Elizabeth Spencer Wines, who will be tasting through his Napa Valley Wines and signing bottles.

This is one Thursday night you will not want to miss. Who can resist an evening of Wine, Women and Song?

Make the scene! The Wine Bin is housed in the historic firehouse built in 1930 at 8390 Main Street, Historic Ellicott City, Maryland 21043. Free parking is available adjacent to the building and there is plenty of on-street parking as well. Oh - and the Wine Bin itself is incredible - they have about 500 different bottles on site, including organic wines. They have 200 wines under $20 and are featuring two bottles this month that directly support breast cancer research!

Bid early and often on the shoot for SOS - and we'll see you there!

~Rissa

We still get around...

2009-06-04T01:05:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile since we've updated the list of wedding and event venues we have worked at in the Baltimore/DC area and I figured it was time to give it a refresher. We've added over a dozen new venues in the local vicinity, as well as several new states and countries in the destination category. But that's a story for another time.

Lots of brides ask us if we've been to their venue. Well, we've worked at about 65 locally, not including the events we've done at clients' homes or farms, or the events held in other areas. If you don't see your mansion or ballroom on this list, not to worry ~ we're always excited to explore a new place! After all, we hadn't worked at all these venues when we started, and now we've been back to some many times!!

And without further delay... the venues:

Arts Club (DC)
Baltimore Museum of Industry
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Baltimore Waterfront Marriott
Belvedere Hotel
Black Rock Center for the Arts
Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast (VA)

Carlylse Hotel (DC)
Ceresville Mansion
Centennial Park

Chanteclaire Farm
Chase Court
Chesapeake Bay Beach Club (all rooms)
Chesapeake Bay Beach Resort
Christian Clay Winery (PA)
Clearview at Horn's Point Country Club
Cloisters
Country Club of York (PA)
Elkridge Furnace Inn

Evergreen House
Engineers Club
Founders Inn (VA)
The Gathering Place

Glen Echo Park
Gramercy Mansion
Grey Rock Mansion
Harbor Court Hotel
Hay-Adams Hotel (DC)

Herrington on the Bay
Historic Oakland Mansion
Hunt Valley Golf Club
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
Inn at Roop's Mill

Josephine Butler Parks Mansion/Merdian Hill Park (DC)

Loews Annapolis Hotel
MICA/Main Building
Matthews 1600
Montpelier Mansion

Mt. Airy Mansion
Mt. De Sales Academy
Nassau Valley Winery (DE)
Naval Academy

National Press Club (DC)

Newton White Mansion
North Point Park/Trolley Station
Officer's Club/Ft. McNair (DC)
Old Stone Mill Inn (PA)

Overhills Mansion
Phoenix Park Hotel (DC)
Pier 5
Piney Run Park

Rolling Road Golf Club

Savage Mill/Mansion

Sheraton/Columbia Town Center

St. Regis Hotel (DC)
Stonewall Golf Club (VA)
Stronghold Mansion/Sugarloaf
Tabard Inn (DC)
Ten Oaks Ballroom
University of Maryland
Watermark Yachts
WISP
Windows on the Bay
World Trade Center/Inner Harbor
Yorktowne Hotel (PA)

Told ya. We get around.

~ Rissa

Midnight in the Garden of Rissa & Nathaniel

2009-05-01T17:19:00.005-04:00

Working extremely long hours is not unusual around here. We spend hours & hours doing Photoshop work for clients, creating albums and books, answering emails and more at the office. Leaving at midnight (or later!) to go home is common.

Last night we were coming in the front door from another late night of work and noticed that several of our outdoor lights had burned out at the same time ~ leaving only one bulb lit. At first it was like "Geez, all at once?" But what magic... That single light illuminated Nathaniel's flower garden in a way I had never seen when all the lights were filling the air. It was a dreamscape.

The daffodils, tulips, bleeding hearts, azaleas and ranunculus transformed into sensual works of modern art in the dim light. Their structure, their grace was balanced beautifully with the darkness. Hints of blossoming color cloaked in the depth of midnight.

Like the eccentric I am, I sat up a camera on timer release - first propped on a trash can, then more successfully (and safely) on Nathaniel's tripod. It only occurred to me about 15 minutes into shooting that this was an unusual time for pictures. Wonder what the neighbors thought of the midnight photo shoot going on in the front yard.

In the end tho, I honestly don't care if the folks on my block think I am a little unusual. I got an incredible show ~ nature at her finest. You just never know what ethereal secrets may unfold before you, or what the darkness might reveal.

~ Rissa

Need a Wedding Photographer?

2009-04-23T23:10:00.002-04:00

If that's an affirmative - we're glad to help!

But you can't visit our wedding-website right now. We plan to be back online soon, so till then, feel free to browse balance's other portfolios and check out the wedding pix we have on our Flickr account!

Gracias ~
Rissa

Notes from one of our Beauties...

2009-04-15T13:20:00.005-04:00

And now... a blog from one of our boudoir clients!

I remember when I first came across the Balance Boudoir website and thought to myself, "This is perfect!" What better gift to give your man than a book full of beautiful photos! Once I met Rissa, I felt totally comfortable and trusted she would make the experience exactly what I wanted. Obviously I had a lot of work to do, so I planned my boudoir shoot for about 3 months after the consultation. I planned on doing 3 different looks for approximately 2-3 hours.

Besides being nervous, I was completely obsessed with how my body would look in pictures like these. I am your average girl with those "certain areas" I don't love so much. I really put myself in gear by working out 4-5 days a week, keeping up with my hair & nails and tanning.

An extra boost was a Body Lift wrap I got the Friday before the shoot at Wraptured which helped me tighten up & tone all over. It really made a difference! Then morning of the shoot, I made sure to shave extremely well and lotion up - I was so excited, the day had arrived!

My excuse for my fiance was that I was participating in a walk-a-thon (which by the way, works like a charm!) So I planned my shoot for a Sunday morning and he didn't suspect a thing. I have to admit my stomach was in my throat. It took me pretty much the whole first look to begin feeling comfortable. But Rissa & Ashley (Up Do's for I Do's) were so down to earth and we just talked and laughed the whole time. They really helped pose me and direct me in what would look best, because I had no clue whatsoever! I did the shoot at Rissa's place & you'd never know it from the photos. She really came up with unique ideas and poses and made sure I was comfortable. It was so much fun and before I knew it, I was done!

When I saw the pictures, I couldn't believe it. Really could not believe it! I couldn't even believe that it was me. They were absolutely amazing and all my worrying & hard work had paid off.

My advice to any girl considering this is:
#1 - DO IT!! If you're nervous, self-conscious, unsure... Trust me. It's totally worth it.
#2 - Do what you can. Obviously you want to look your best for a shoot like this, but don't kill yourself. Just make sure you take care of your body inside and out.
#3 - Try to loosen up. I wish I would have been a little less nervous, because I felt so stiff at the beginning. Just remember it's normal to feel nervous but trust Rissa & the girls to help you pose in positions that make you look GREAT!
And lastly #4 - just think of how much your fiance/husband/boyfriend will LOVE this gift! There is nothing he would like more, I am pretty sure about that. It's a special experience that he will love and it will boost your confidence in the process.

I could not be more satisfied with this experience. From the hair & makeup to the comforting support throughout the shoot up until the final product, it was so much fun and so worth the time & money.

Believe that you are beautiful and definitely put a Balance Boudoir photo shoot at the top of your 'To Do' list!!

Thank you so much!!

~DP

Tasty Catonsville

2009-04-13T23:46:00.006-04:00

So, for the past several years, I’ve been juggling around the idea of “what do I want to do when I grow up,” meaning what category of photography am I most interested in turning into a career after college? For years, “photography” is as far as I got. I eventually had my sights set on doing newspaper photojournalism. THEN, I met Rissa and Nathaniel, and documentary wedding photography, a type of photojournalism that was strange and new, yet fascinating to me, came into the picture.

Now I’ve worked with balance photography for over a year, and I’ve assisted “I don’t even know how many” weddings, but I would have never guessed my sweet tooth would guide me on my career path. Funny enough, weddings brought me to wedding cake, which brought me to food photography, the category I love best so far in the world of photography.

The Candlelight Inn

Knowing where my enthusiasm lays, food, Rissa and Nathaniel have been amazing enough to grant me as many opportunities in photographing cakes and entrees at weddings as possible. And this past February, they gave me another chance to practice my passion.

The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) asked balance to do the photography for the upcoming Taste of Catonsville event. To prepare for this event, it was necessary to get photographs of all the restaurants and an entrée they’d want to “show off” for various areas of advertising. So, one night after work, they sat down to tell me they’d like me to organize and photograph the first set of restaurants, which added up to 15 restaurants! It literally took my breath away. They were letting me out on my own - they had faith in me - and I like to think I was the little bird being pushed out of the nest, praying I could fly.

Indian Delight

Like I said earlier, I’ve worked with Rissa and Nathaniel for a while, but I’ve never had the responsibility of organizing my own project, and this was certainly a big first project. My job was to call each restaurant, somehow reach a busy manager or owner and make an appointment to stop by and make pictures of the dish they wanted to feature. So I'd call. Call again. And eventually get someone to help me make the appointment.

The Catonsville Gourmet

Once I made an appointment, all the while making 14 other appointments at the same time, I waited in anticipation for shoots to begin, and this all occurred in just a couple of weeks. My visits were always pleasant, and a full learning experience. I was part of the food industry for a moment. I handled the business world on my own, I networked, made friends, and most of all, I got to meet people who loved what they do, whether it was working over the stove, decorating the entrée, managing the restaurant, or taking the pictures of it all.

I could not have asked for anything better. And I'm so proud of the pictures I created. They will be used in the program for the Taste of Catonsville and have been printer on flyers and currently are the main feature in the GCCC's display window at 1002 Frederick Rd in downtown Catonsville.

The Rumor Mill

All in all, there are 25 restaurants featured in the Taste of Catonsville. The list includes The Candlelight Inn, the Catonsville Gourmet, Cafe on the Grove, Dimitri's International Grill, Edible Arrangements, El Nayar, G.L. Shacks, House of Audrey, Indian Delight, Jennings Cafe, the Rumor Mill, Ships Cafe, Tiffany's, Chef Paolino's, Duesenberg's - An American Cafe, Lucy's Paradise Cafe, Spicy Garden, Sugarbakers, Moontimes Cafe, Prime Central Sandwich,Catonsville Village Bakery, Sam's Bagels, Whitehouse Catering @ Overhills Mansion, McDonald's and The Rolling Road Country Club.

El Nayar

The Taste of Catonsville will be held at the Rolling Road Country Club on Monday April 20th from 5pm to 7:30pm. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. It's the kick-off event for Restaurant Week in Catonsville and I have to say, having sampled the goods at so many Catonsville eateries - I can't wait!

See you there!

~Josie

Romance at The Colony

2009-04-09T14:44:00.007-04:00

When we were in Florida recently, we had the pleasure of shooting at a West Palm Beach landmark, The Colony Hotel on Hammon Avenue. It was the epitome of Palm Beach posh ~ extremely elegant, beautiful ~ obviously for those with discriminating taste. Like gorgeous couple Marissa & Rudy, whose wedding portraits were taken there.

Marissa's hair and make-up were done by Ashley, from Up Do's for I Do's. Her jewelry was created by Kim Reyes Wearable Art and her dress was by Beaches, accented with a lavender silk sash. Ashley also made her birdcage veil! Ash, you're so multi-talented! Wow!

Marissa's bouquet of roses and delphiniums was created by the inimitable Carole from A Garden of Earthly Delights.

Groom Rudy was sporting clothes by Calvin Klein. He's also a professional model for Ford Agency! Cool job you have there, Rudy...

The Colony was an incredible backdrop for romantic wedding pictures. The lobby, ballroom, gardens and Presidential Suite were all stunning ~ each area was more incredible than the last! If you are in the Palm Beach area, you must check it out! If you a bride considering a destination wedding, I would highly recommend The Colony for a top-notch experience! They just completed a huge renovation and every aspect of the facility was amazing ~ from the ambiance to the service to the fantastic, manicured gardens!

~ Rissa

Dropping Our Drawers

2009-04-08T16:47:00.010-04:00

Okay, maybe we aren't literally dropping our drawers, but we ladies @ balance are hard at work. We've been back in the boudoir, creating seductive gorgeous images for loads of girls these past few months.

First, you've gotta go online and check out the new additions to our boudoir portfolio. Several beauties have been added and we think they look incredibly hot. One girl even posed outdoors in her sexy lingerie and jean cut-offs.

Next, we're introducing a new package: The Uptown Girl. This new option is a step between the Fantasy Girl and the Supermodel, and is designed for girls who want a fabulous book, but aren't as into the idea of a calendar. The Uptown Girl includes a shoot with 6 changes of wardrobe, 3 looks of hair & make-up by a stylist from Up Do's for I Do's, all images on a proofing disc and pass-word protected viewing website as well as a classic black leather-bound 6x9 flush-mount (the Black Book) album featuring 20 pages of retouched photographs of you and a stunning 16x20 canvas wrap to display in your boudoir at home. The Uptown Girl is a stylish, timeless and exceedingly elegant option for your boudoir photo session.

More news: Because all but two of our clients have added on false lashes in the past six months, we are now including lashes with the styling for every package. We love them because they really add an extra level of glam!

What better gift for your guy ~ or yourself ~ than a collection of sultry, sexy boudoir images ~ an intimate portrait of you!

~ Rissa

Vera Beautiful

2009-04-08T16:41:00.010-04:00

During our recent trip to Florida, we were lucky enough to do several incredible photo shoots. One of my favorites was of bride Cece in her slinky, pale pink, silk Vera Wang gown and I wanted to share some of the images.

Cece's flowers were created by Carole from a Garden of Earthly Delights.

Her hair & make-up, as well as those of bridesmaids Lauren and Katie, were done by Ashley from Up Do's for I Do's. All the girls are wearing pearl jewelry by both Kim Reyes Wearable Art and Kourtney Pulitzer. The pix were shot in downtown Delray Beach.

Cece and her girlfriends really captured the sunny spirit of southern Florida to me. They were gorgeous, glamorous and radiant.

~ Rissa

Green-er

2009-04-08T15:17:00.004-04:00

We attend a lot of events and one thing that is incredibly striking is the amount of waste involved. Weddings and parties create a lot of trash and are not usually very environmentally friendly. Experts say that the average wedding can create 14.5 lbs. of carbon ~ as much as the average American creates in an entire year. So that said, I'd think that anything, even one thing, you can do to be less wasteful would make a difference.

I know, I know ~ it's already overwhelming to plan a wedding, nevermind also trying to make your wedding eco-friendly. But you don't have to be a dirty hippie to have a greener wedding. Seriously! It can still be chic, upscale and downright gorgeous ~ while having less impact on the Earth.

We've seen lots of great ideas at real weddings as well in magazines and at wedding shows. Last spring one our brides used potted magnolias as her table centerpieces, and folks were able to take them home and enjoy them. Several of our brides last year decided against favors and instead used that part of their budget to make a donation to local charities.

Here are some more great, greener ideas...

* Look for reusable items as decor. Potted plants and flowers are one idea. You could try stylish glass cylinders of live goldfish as centerpieces, or artfully arranged fruit. All of which can be given away to guests.

* Rent as much as you can ~ things like linens, vases, chairs, tables, plates/glasses/silverware. It can be reused and you won't be stuck with 25 matching vases to store in the attic.

* Instead of traditional paraffin candles, use beeswax or soy candles. They are readily available everywhere now, even Target and Kohl's!

* Use recycled paper for all your invitations, place cards, menus, announcements and other stationary. Consider an online RSVP through your wedding website to cut back on paper. Many designers also offer stationary printed with soy and veggie based inks, which are as bright and clear as any traditional ink.

* Search for florists that source their flowers locally and organically. And if you go with more traditional centerpieces, either give them away to guests or have a friend take them as donations to local nursing homes or hospitals, so folks can continue to enjoy them.

* Make a donation to charity instead of giving favors to your guests.

* Ask your caterer if they offer any organic food, or could source your ingredients locally. Inquire if your caterer and bartender if they can recycle food/drink containers. Finally, see if the caterer will box up leftovers from the reception to give away to family & friends instead of the food ending up in the trash. Waste not, want not.

* Go with local or organic wines, liquors and beers for your bar. Maryland has many well-known vineyards and breweries - and even an organic winery - Black Ankle Vineyards!

* Consider a dress made from organic silk. Canadian designer Adele Weschler offers an entire eco-couture line.

* Release butterflies, throw dried herbs or use live doves instead of sparklers for your send-off.

* Instead of going with the usual registries at Macy's or Bed Bath & Beyond, try an antique shop like Retropolitan in Ellicott City, or a store with eco-chic options, like Nest in Clarksville or bluehouse with locations in Inner Harbor East and Towson.

We are also lucky enough to work with several other vendors who are committed to making events greener. Carole at A Garden of Earthly Delights is very serious about eco-friendly weddings. Paul at Dionysus' Kitchen was one of the first in the catering biz to offer local and organic options in menus. Michael at ZBest Limos can tell you about their new hybrid SUV limo options. Ellen at LoCoFlo offers only Maryland-grown flowers.

Another great green vendor is event planner Lori Hill. Lori specializes in planning greener events and has shared some of her wonderful tips for brides:

* Invitations ~

Print on 100% post consumer recycled paper that is non-chlorine bleached. Encourage guests to recycle their invitations. Use paper with embedded seeds so that guests can plant the invites and enjoy the flowers that grow from them. Use a reply postcard (no envelope) and forego the inner envelopes. Use corks from wine bottles as escort card holders. Instead of escort cards, stamp guests' names on stones.

* Transportation & Venue ~

Transport guests with hybrids or bio-diesel vehicles. Choose a destination that requires minimal travel. Encourage guests to use mass transit & provide information, passes and maps in guest packages. Choose a venue that requires few added decor items such as a botanical garden, a farm or a seaside resort. Hold the ceremony and reception at one place to minimize driving.

*Decor ~

Use local, seasonal and/or organically grown flowers that minimize damage to ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and eliminate cross-country shipping. Choose centerpieces and decorations such as living and/or flowering plants that can be reused.

* Food & Beverage ~

Work with caters who can provide locally & organically grown food, wine & liquor. Opt for vegetarian or vegan meal options. Provide filtered water served in glasses instead of bottled water. Ask the caterer to compost unusable leftovers or ship them to a local farm. Donate leftovers to a local shelter.

*Wardrobe ~

Consider vintage dresses for the bride and bridesmaid. Purchase vintage rings, or ones made from 100% recycled, reclaimed, responsible gold.

*Gifts ~

Provide guests with handmade gifts, such as pottery. In lieu of gifts for yourself, ask for donations to a favorite charity.

See... a greener wedding doesn't mean granola. All this should get you started and headed in the right direction. Happy planning & stay green !

~ Rissa

Making Dreams Come True

2009-04-01T11:37:00.004-04:00

There are people who like to vacation, and those who yearn to travel. Travelers love to delve into a new culture for the first time; to see new light at sunrise on the horizon, to taste new flavors, to exlpore the fabric of a society that makes up its individuality. To get lost in a place and a people, and embrace the unfamiliar.

I knew I was a traveler even at a young age. My parents took my brother and I on many vacations: together we explored over half of America as well as Canada, England, Scotland, France, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. At 17 I experienced my first solo adventure ~ a 60 mile canoe trip in Canada. There is nothing I love more than going to a new place for the first time. You see things differently in this first visit than you ever will again. No matter how many times you go back, it will never be like that first exploration. You truly see the place with new eyes, so to speak. And for more than a decade, it has been my dream to both travel and make pictures of the places I go.

Being a photographer marries perfectly with my dreams of travel. This year I have been lucky enough to travel or am going to travel all over the world. And I'm also lucky because now I can share some of it with you. I'm launching my first online gallery of fine art prints for sale. Hosted by two of our favorite companies, Collages.net and Facebook! The site will be available only for the next four months at which time it will be replaced with an new online gallery from another locale.

Traveling renews my spirit and gives me an appreciation for both my destination and the familiarity of home. I hope you enjoy stepping off the beaten path as you explore my pictures from Costa Rica and can experience some of the magic of the rainforest for yourself.

Thanks for sharing in my dream --
~Nathaniel

Spring Wedding Shows

2009-03-28T22:56:00.002-04:00

Brides & Grooms & Moms-of-Brides ~

Wanna meet us in person and eat loads of wedding cake samples? I mean, why not, right?

Check us out at these wedding shows in the next month...

Sunday March 29th

The International Bridal Show @ Pier 5 Hotel

11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 711 Eastern Ave. Baltimore, 21202

Shows is focused on international and ethnic offerings, and includes multiple lectures and a fashion show throughout the day.

Thursday April 2nd

The Bridal Happy Hour @ the American Visionary Art Museum

5:30 p.m. to 7:30p.m., 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, 21230

Free to all registered brides! A fun and funky evening ~ very hip!

Sunday April 5th

Ultimate Bridal Show by Beginning Two End @ Best Western Baltimore

2 p.m. to 5 p.m., 5625 O'Donnell St., Baltimore, 21224

Meet local vendors and get lucky with prize drawings every 30 minutes!

Admission fee applies.

Sunday April 19th

Bridal Showcase @ Historic Oakland Mansion

2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia MD 21044 (across from the mall)

A local classic! This show fills the mansion and the outdoor patio area. Always fun!

Admission fee applies.

Sunday April 26th

Bridal Accessories Sale & Wedding Expo @ Columbia Hilton

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., 5485 Twin Knolls Rd., Columbia MD 21045

Gowns, cake and other fabulous finds all afternoon!

Admission fee applies.

Hope to see you all out and about this month!

~ Rissa

MIA

2009-03-28T22:21:00.002-04:00

Recently I learned that MIA has more than one meaning. In addition to being a gorgeous woman's name, Mia, it can mean "Missing In Action" -- which is the abbreviation I've always know. But is also short for Miami, as in Miami, Florida ~ the hottest city on the east coast. I'm going into all this ridiculous detail for a reason. Bear with me -- I do have a point.

In my mind I have written about a hundred blogs since the last one, but none have made into reality. We've definitely been missing in action here. And MIA is also appropriate because we spent a portion of this past month working in Miami, FL. So, yea, we've been MIA. Partially in MIA. (Though I haven't met any women named Mia in the process...)

So at the beginning of March, we had just finished our four February weddings (as some of you know, Nathaniel did one of those in Costa Rica! More on that from him, though...) and all the carry-over from the January wedding shows (consults and such).

The beginning of March saw Baltimore under a blanket of snow. But in Miami, it was in the high seventies with clear blue skies and white crystal beaches.

We packed up our cameras -- and Brittany, Carole (from a Garden of Earthly Delights) and Ashley (from Up Do's for I Do's) and headed south. We did 14 shoots as a team in 3 days. I think it may be 3 of the longest work days I have ever been through. And one of the most incredible experiences ever! We had models and clients, a closet full of designer gowns, pearl jewelry on loan from Kim Reyes Wearable Art, more jewelry on loan from Kourtney Pulitzer (granddaughter of Lily Pulitzer!), and of course ~ the incredible floral creations of Carole and the always gorgeous hair & make-up stylings of Ashley!

After all this work was done, we hit the beach. South Beach, that is! It was my 34th birthday and we celebrated by lounging around and -- honestly -- getting sunburned.

A few other highlites of the trip: hanging out with Leslie Gray Streeter! Leslie has been one of my dearest friends for almost two decades now. We met in York, PA when we both worked a small newspaper there. She's now a reporter in West Palm Beach and is generally a local celeb there. Always cute, funny and smart, Leslie is the best pal a girl could want! And she and Brit treated me to a wild backless dress for my birthday, as well as a fun night out in Miami Beach! Another highlite for me was the incredible and cheap Cuban food. The flattened, grilled sandwiches were ssooooo good and if I could get away with it, I'd probably live on fried plantains. But really... the best part... being in a beautiful place with Nathaniel and everyone else. Nothing quite as cool as getting to work and play with the love of your life and some of your bestest girlfriends.

So we've been MIA. But we're back and back at it. Stay tuned... more is on the way very soon!

~ Rissa

PS We've also fallen in love with another MIA. It's MIA radio out of Miami. We play it all the time in the office!

Why I love the USA

2009-02-08T18:03:00.005-05:00

Seriously, can you imagine another country where it's legal to make your President into an emo kid? Love that Freedom of Speech amendment!!

He kind-of looks good with this hair. Wonder what other world leaders would say...? I know the girl at Office Depot would love it. She was so busy on her cell phone talking to someone about "how fine Barack is," that she could barely make my copies! With all that giggling, you'd think he was gonna pick her up after work and take her out for dinner. (I suspect this was not the case, tho...)

For all you ladies that love Barack, this one's for you!
~ Rissa

PS I did not do this Photoshop job! I wish I knew who did, but instead found this randomly online with no credit of any kind. Love it tho! Laughed for quite some time on this one!!! Did you Photoshop this picture???

Eat Out & Support a Worthy Cause

2009-02-02T17:54:00.002-05:00

On February 10, 2009 from 6pm -11pm, The Greene Turtle in Mount Airy, MD will be hosting the "Funds For Friends" event. 10% of all the proceeds from business brought into the restaurant during those hours will be donated to local charity, Maryland For Our Military.

Nathaniel & I think the world of this group. In fact, we donated 100% of the proceeds of the 2008 Thank You Calendar to Kathy and the work she does at MFOM. Many groups support soldiers, but MFOM is unique because of the truly personal attention each soldier and his/her family gets.

According to Kathy (who heads MFOM), support for our troops has gone down in the past year. In fact, MFOM has had more requests for help than ever before locally and from Iraq and Afghanistan. These soldiers need all the support they can get. So please spread the word about this event and stop by to enjoy some Greene Turtle fare (we adore the queso pretzel appetizers and Nathaniel thinks the beer list is amazing) while putting your meal money on double duty as a fundraiser for the troops.

Several Marines and soldiers from Walter Reed will be coming to the event to enjoy the evening. So stop by, have dinner and take this time to say "Thank You" to those who would put themselves in harm's way to protect our way of life!

See you there
~ Rissa

Finding the Beginning

2009-01-29T00:37:00.008-05:00

You never know when something or someone is going to show up and change your life forever. Obviously there are the big dramatic things ~ like getting married or having a child. But I'm talking more about the small, quiet stuff that steps in with a whisper and suddenly leads you in a new direction. Those moments are truly unpredictable and usually appear in the most unexpected ways.

Last night Nathaniel and I were driving home from Trader Joe's, happily munching on dried mango, as is the tradition for us, and we started talking about the moments in our childhood that shaped us ~ specifically tangible memories that changed our paths.

One of the first tangible things I remember is a photograph from a magazine. I had likely seen hundreds or maybe thousands of pictures up until that time, whether I was aware of them or not. There were always newspapers, magazines and books in my parents' home, and I have always been an avid reader. I had even owned a camera since age 7 and was already an active child photographer, going through more film than I care to recall. One of my favorite activities was dressing up my dolls for "photo shoots" in the yard or at the local park. (Foreshadowing, anyone?)

But this picture was special because in the moment that I looked at it, I was changed from the person I was just minutes before. What appears to me as a very simple image now had so much impact on me in that moment, that my path changed. Gone were my varied & wishy-washy little girl aspirations of being a ballerina or a jockey or a chef. My entire life's dream was suddenly laid out before me: I wanted to be a professional photographer when I grew up.

A Google search does not reveal any information about the shop the ad was originally for or the photographer who created it. It was published in Details magazine, before it was relaunched in 2000 as a men's mag. I knew Details as a funky offbeat magazine about NYC club life. Oddly, I was about 12 when I began subscribing and found this picture. I couldn't tell you how on Earth I ended up subscribing to a monthly magazine about clubbing in the late 1980s, but I had it. Especially strange since I lived in a small town in south central Pennsylvania and had never set foot in a club.

For more than 20 years I have held onto this picture. It has been thumb-tacked to walls, taped to repair tears and is yellowed and tattered with age. It has been a treasure for most of my life and each time I look at it, I am reminded of the very moment that I knew I wanted to be a photographer. It's pretty amazing really when I look back over my life and see how this one image in a magazine took me so far so fast. There were doubts along the way, moments when I tried other things. But even when I was pursuing different majors in college, my 35mm was never far. I was always taking pictures. Having a camera strap on my shoulder feels so natural to me, I occasionally look for it when it's not there.

Because hindsight is truly 20/20, you often can't know what is happening when you live it. You may be able to sense that something is different in your world though you're not sure what has changed. I can recall telling people around me I wanted to be a photographer and no one really thinking much of it initially. After all, I had also wanted to be 50 billion other things before that. It stuck though, this photography thing. I read literally every book in the school library on the subject. Started asking my parents to get me lessons. And at age 13, my parents bought me my first SLR. It was a second-hand, totally manual Pentax and I loved it. It taught me a lot until I upgraded to my new Olympus, also totally manual. That one took me through high school as well as night classes at the local college in my senior year. Before college, my grandmother got me my first Nikon. It had auto focus and a fancy Nikon camera strap and I was elated with it. My first professional camera ~ also a Nikon film camera, came 3 years later. Got that one myself. Since then... I don't even know how many cameras I have owned. A lot.

Through it all, this black and white picture from Details remains. Today I cannot explain what moved me about this image. But I still love it. It is part of me, part of my history. And is why I do the job I love today. Simply, a girl in an old-fashioned pose, a big straw hat, white sunglasses held with indifference, and one long strand of pearls.

~ Rissa

My Precious

2009-01-20T23:41:00.004-05:00

Literally every few days someone comments to me about my bling. Not that I am dripping in diamonds and jewels. Ha, ha! Definitely not, I'm a pretty basic girl (though my dangly earring collection is slightly ridiculous ~ ). I'm talking about my wedding band.

Women and men stop me to ask about it regularly. I've been wearing it every day for over four years now and the comments and compliments have not slowed at all.

To me this could only mean one thing. The artist who designed and made it, Sarah Graham, is a genius. My one-of-a-kind artisan ring is truly a testament to the hands that created it. And you will be surprised to hear this: It was not even as expensive as rings we looked at locally from jewelers.

Sarah is based in California. The year before we got married I found Sarah's website after searching jewelry artists online until about 4 am one sleepless night. The moment I laid eyes on her work, I knew I had found the person who would make my wedding band. I felt instantly connected to her style, her vision and her philosophy.

We met up with Sarah when she came to D.C. a few months later as a vendor at an arts & crafts show. She measured my finger personally, and we chatted about a design she already made and the few custom changes I was interested in.

Sarah was beyond a pleasure to do business with. One of my custom requests was that instead of all diamonds, deep red garnets be placed in the ring. When she found what she felt where the perfect stones on a trip to Las Vegas, she actually Fed-Ex-ed them to me to approve for my ring! Well in advance of the wedding -- and well before the promised delivery date -- my ring arrived: 18 karat gold with white diamonds and dark red garnets. She presented it in a gorgeous, round red leather box that I still have.

In the past five years since I got my ring, Sarah Graham's work has truly exploded onto the couture fashion scene. Movie stars like Sharon Stone and Angelina Jolie are now sporting her creations, she's been featured in Elle, InStyle, Real Simple, the Robb Report, Organic Style, Lucky and Modern Bride magazines, and models are wearing her pieces on the catwalk at designer shows. Once when we were in NY, the owner of the gallery we were browsing looked at my hand and asked if my ring was a Sarah Graham piece! I felt way cool. And even cooler that I had enough of an eye to have recognized someone's work who was going to become so popular.

So if you like truly special jewelry -- for men or women (her collection is much larger now -- back in 2003 she had 4 lines, now she has 16 and does pieces for guys, too!), check out Sarah Graham. It feels great to support an artist living her dream (she only started her business in 2000!!) and even greater to have a regular source of compliments right around your finger! : )

~ Rissa

PS If you love Sarah's work as much as I do, you can see it in person in Baltimore next month at the American Craft Council Retail Show @ the Baltimore Convention Center on Pratt Street. February 27 - March 1, 2009. She's worth the visit!!

Interrogation

2009-01-20T22:53:00.006-05:00

Imagine sitting down across a table from two people. They are strangers, but they are really looking you over, assessing your every movement, every word. One of them clears her throat and unfolds a piece of unlined white paper.

"I have a few questions I ask you..." she says. And you can see that the list extends down the entire front of the page and onto the back.

Welcome to the world of wedding photography meetings. Today, you will switch chairs and play the part of the photographer...

We get asked a lot of questions in the process of working with our weddings clients. Some questions we get asked more than others. Many are answered in the FAQ of our website but we certainly don't mind giving you all the information again to help you make an informed decision about who you hire for such an important event.

Whether its in a client meeting in our studio, or a quick interrogation at a wedding show, these are the questions that come up the most:

1) Why is photography so expensive?

All photographers hear this one, be it for weddings, portraits or catalog shots.
The business of photography is incredibly expensive. It is a myth perpetuated by TV shows and other fiction that photographers make tons and tons of money. A few do, but most just make a decent living. Some barely get by. And before we get into the costs I will tell you that absolutely 100% of the time, you get what you pay for when you hire a photographer.

Here is a little bit of why:
*On average, high end cameras cost between $1500-$5000. They must be replaced every 150,000-500,000 pictures, or about 1-3 years, and there must be several backups in case they go down.
*Photographers need peripheral camera gear: professional grade lenses usually cost $600-$3,000 each, of which several are needed and they must be professionally cleaned/serviced every year and replaced every 4-5 years. Flashes cost $300-$500 each and most photographers own 5-10. Extra batteries, digital cards, camera bags, etc. etc. These add-ons quickly rocket into the thousands.
*Computers that can process the necessary volume of images start at $2,000-$5,000. Multiple computers are practically a necessity for batch processing of images, and they will need to be replaced or updated about every 5 years. Don't forget printers and a scanner!
*Software for processing and production of images can add up to several thousand dollars and must be updated every year to every other year. Photoshop CS4 alone costs $699; Adobe Creative Suite4 costs $2,499. These programs are just the basics, you still need other specialty stuff too, to be effective and efficient.
*Backup DVDs and hard drives are used to store, manage and safeguard clients photographs.
An average photography studio invests at least $1000 per year in DVDs & CDs; Hard drives, at least another $1,000. Professionals must be very serious and cautious with storage in the digital age, lest they lose your pictures.
*Products such as albums, prints and studio samples really add up, too. Not only are many of these products expensive to produce, you must have multiple samples to show in your studio and update them every year. Cost this in the thousands annually as well.
*Studio rent or mortgage and all associated utilities, internet and phone needs (Whether at home or commercial)
*Studio equipment such as lights, umbrellas, backdrops, gels, cords, props, furniture.
*Professional memberships, website, marketing materials and graphic design, business cards.
*Liability insurance and insurance on all the above listed equipment and studio space.

Is this boring yet? Because this list is not comprehensive by any means.... Ask any high school guidance counselor and they will even tell you that photography is the most expensive major you can sign on for as a student. It doesn't get cheaper when you go pro. It's very expensive to be a professional photographer. Now you get it.

2) What is your style? What does photojournalism actually mean?

Our background IS photojournalism. We are actual photojournalists with real training and real experience. Being a photojournalist means that you can tell a story with a photograph. You can capture fleeting moments of time that show raw emotion and evoke feelings that are seen in the picture. A photojournalist can be thrust into any situation at any place, at any time and deliver stunning images capturing real moments.

3) Who will actually shoot my wedding?

Rissa and I are the principle photographers and nearly always photograph weddings together. We have two assistants and two second shooters who accompany us at larger weddings. We don't employ just any photographer, our team has been carefully selected over the course of many years and they uphold the very high standards that we built our business on. To be a part of our team at Balance means that you are on the cutting edge, creative, technically sound, and highly professional.

4) Will I get a CD of my pictures?

We feel that in today's highly visual multi-media world, there are incredible options for you out there to consider for your images. We always give CDs to our clients for just that reason and even share a list of fun websites to order photo gifts from with their files. Once again I want to emphasize, you get what you pay for. The products and services we offer for your photographs can't be found outside our studio and are one of a kind. We want you have the freedom to do what you want with your pictures, yet also have the opportunity to get products only offered to professionals as well.

5) Where are you located?

We are located in Catonsville, MD but also have mobile offices anywhere Starbucks is located.

6) How far will you travel?

Anywhere in the world. We all have valid passports, too.

7) Have you been to my venue?

We have worked at a pretty extensive list of venues but we always love to go someplace new. Being a photojournalist means that you can go anywhere and make great images so not having been to your venue should by no means be a deterrent to hiring us.

8) I hate being photographed! Can you make is easier in any way?

There are no bad subjects, only bad photographers. We have years of experience photographing people of all sizes, shapes, colors and tempers. Our clients always look good. We have a pretty filter, after all. : )

9) How many formals do you take? How many candids?

We take as many formals as you want, and focus on documentary images the rest of the time. Also we prefer to do something called "informals" which you can see on our website. We are truly flexible in this and really try to deliver to you exactly what you want. If you want nothing but formals for your wedding photos however, we are really not the right people for you.

10) When should I book? How far in advance?

1 year in advance is best. 6 months out is a gamble for your date especially during busy months like September/October. About once every 2 or 3 years, for various reasons, we will book a wedding 1 week before the date! Talk about procrastinating.

We are an exclusive studio. If you want us, you will get us, not "Joe the photographer." We are only two people and to offer our skills and creative ability to droves of people is not possible. We limit the number of weddings we take on each year to 35. This allows us to truly give each client all the attention and service they deserve. Currently we have 15 spots left for this year.

11) My church won't allow flash photography. What can you do?

No worries, our skills and our equipment are top of the line. We will capture your ceremony no matter what, and even have a few tricks up our sleeves -- especially when dealing with grumpy church ladies and dark chapels. Trade secrets.

12) What happens if it rains on my wedding day?

You might get wet, your plans may slightly change, but you will still get married. That is the most important part and don't you forget it! Consider having funky umbrellas and go with the flow. Try a clear tent, that's what we did. We can always find a pretty place for pictures no matter what happens.

13) You guys look young. How many weddings have you done?

Over two hundred. People have not hired us before because they "thought we were too young." Well, we've been in business about a decade and have been shootign weddings since we were teen-agers. We are both in our thirties now. Ask us our anti-aging secrets when you meet with us, we'll be glad to share.

14) Can I build a custom package?

Absolutely. One thing we are all about is getting you exactly what you want. Not everyone wants the same thing and no single package is right for everyone. Our packages are based on what most couples have wanted.

15) Can you do special effects, like black & white, fisheye or sepia?

We can do and have done just about anything you could imagine. If there is something specific you are looking for, don't be shy, tell us and we will make it happen.

16) How long does is take to get the photos back?

Two to four weeks based on when your wedding is and which package you get.

17) Do you put pictures online for my guests and family?

Always. The pictures go out to you first, followed by your friends and family. If you have a list we can contact them for you. We proudly use Collages.net to host all of our images online. You can view your wedding photos as a slide show, compare images, order prints, email photos to friends, and view them as color, B&W or sepia.

18) What kind of albums do you offer?

We use 9 different album companies and each offers multiple variations. We can offer you over 1,000 album options (literally!!) and once again try to get you exactly what you want. Leather, wood, cloth, acrylic, metal, glossy, matted, flush, mounted, press-printed/coffetable, accordians, you name it, we have access to it. All the album companies we work with create top quality, archival products that you will be proud to own and share.

19) What is your background/education?

Rissa attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts for film-making & screenwriting, and also studied photojournalism & art history at Western Kentucky University. She graduated with honors. She has been a photographer for most of her life and got her first camera at age 7 for selling Girl Scout cookies. Nathaniel studied photojournalism at Western Kentucky as well, and is a 3rd generation photographer. His grandfather, Jack, is considered a legend in the photojournalism industry and trained not only Rissa & Nathaniel, but many of the important photographers alive and working today.

20) What kind of equipment do you use? Do you have back-up equipment?

We use all Nikon equipment.We have both digital and film camera, use all Nikkor lenses and Nikon flash units. we like Lexar and Sandisk digital cards. Our computers are all Macs. And yes, we do have back-up equipment. Always!

So... as we end this interrogation session, I hope you have learned a little more about us and the photography business in general. And if you have more questions ~ seriously, don't hesitate to call or email. We are happy to answer any and all!
~ Nathaniel

Destinations/Travel Weddings

2009-01-20T19:19:00.007-05:00

Imagine yourself getting married on a white sand beach. Tropical breeze blowing your hair, the scent of exotic jasmine in the air. The palm trees sway as you say "I do" and your make your grand exit ~ barefoot, down the beach. Nearly every bride has dreamed of a destination wedding. Each dream is different ~ some are in the warm, sunny Caribbean, others are in California wine country; some imagine gondolas in Venice and still others see the picturesque mountains of Aspen.

Photographing destination weddings is like a dream come true

to me, too. It fulfills two of my loves: documenting weddings and being a travel photographer, all in one swoop.

Derrick & Heather in the rainforest of Costa Rica

But why would you pay to take a photographer across the country or even to another continent? Isn't that like paying for their va-cay? (We have heard this question before...)

Really, nothing could be further from true. Yes, you're paying to transport someone to another place geographically, but it is hardly a vacation for the photographer. Let me explain the difference and why it is incredibly smart to take a photographer with you for your destination wedding.

First and fundamental is reliability. If you hire someone local to your exotic destination, there is no guarantee that they will show up at all. There is also no guarantee that a local photographer will be professional, talented or even take decent, usable pictures. We had a college friend who got married in South America four years ago. She hired a photographer recommended by her hotel and to date, has not received any pictures from her wedding besides a dozen 4x6s printed on an ink jet. Those are the only memories she has to share with her children from that important day - because she totally relied on a local photographer who took her money and did not deliver. Being that she lives in the states, had no contract and does not speak his native language, there is absolutely nothing she has been able to do about it.

Taking us along assures that you will have professional coverage, great photographs and reliable service after your wedding. You will absolutely want to be able to chat with your photographer after the wedding about your album, retouching, prints and other post-production needs.
Post-production accounts for almost 80% of a photographer's service to a bride & groom. Another plus is that if you use a photographer from the states, you can sign a legally binding contract that will protect you and guarantee that you will get your pictures. And it can be enforced because both parties are state-side.

Stephen & Jessica in Miami

If you are traveling to an amazing locale for your wedding, you don't want to be disappointed with what the photos you end up with. Rissa & I have a depth of experience traveling the world and feel confident in our ability to capture incredible images no matter where we are.

We've noticed another trend lately, too. People around the U.S. are calling us to photograph their weddings. There is no shortage of photographers throughout the states and the world. We suspect the reason we are called beginning to be called to so many different places is because we have a unique style. Our photography is not simply a mimicking of other photographers work or a series of technical executions. Our work is a culmination of years of training, experience, artistry, passion and love all combined to create a unique vision of photography and a unique style all our own. Our clients recognize that hiring us as their photographers makes their lives part of this vision, and captures beautiful moments in their lives in our own unique way. A favorite quote we first heard from photographer Joe Buissink, "An original is hard to find, but easy to recognize."

In the past we have traveled outside the DC/Balitmore region for weddings to Nashville TN (several times), Asheville NC, Virginia Beach VA, Miami FL, Louisville KY (several times), Deep Creek MD and Rehoboth Beach DE (several times). This year so far we are scheduled to photograph weddings in Phoenix AZ, New Orleans LA, Nashville TN, Knoxville TN, Charleston SC and in L, England. The list of foreign countries we have traveled to and photographed in include Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Rissa and I got married in Nashville while we lived in Baltimore, so we have real life experience with destination wedding planning. We hired a lot of our vendors locally during visits: food, tent, flowers, musicians, DJ, hair stylist, chocolate fountain, favors, hotel & shuttle service. But we flew in two as well because they were important to us... Rissa's make-up artist, and our photographer. Paying for their hotel and airfare was no problem to work our budget around because we deeply valued their services.

While it is pretty much impossible to pack up a cake and fly it to Brazil, or to move 12 table centerpieces from Baltimore to San Francisco in your carry-on, we strongly encourage you to include your photographer when you take your wedding on the road. It will insure your memories will be there to share with your family, friends as well as children and grandchildren.

Nik & Crawford in the Black Mountains, NC

It truly goes beyond a "job" for us and is an honor to be involved in capturing our clients memories. When you bring a photographer to your wedding ~ be it from around the block or around the world, it is a huge commitment on the part of the photographer. It is not a vacation, no matter where you are making your commitment. Not all photographers will even accept destination weddings because the travel adds an extra layer of effort and responsibility for them. Last October I photographed a wedding in Costa Rica. Friends at home asked if I laid on the beach or went sightseeing ~ and really it was the exact opposite. It was one of the most intense work experiences I have ever had. Far from a vacation, I worked constantly ~ we did multiple additional portrait sessions, there was the wedding, reception and also a rehearsal.

Weddings are monumental events where you will experience feelings and moments that will never happen again for the rest of your life. Documenting those moments is an incredibly beautiful experience, a privilege, and extremely challenging work. Make sure someone you trust is behind the camera!

Safe travels and happy planning!
~Nathaniel

Radio City Baltimore

2009-01-20T19:06:00.002-05:00

Last night I was especially grateful to be featured on a blogtalkradio show focused on wedding photography. The host was wedding coordinator Aisha Whaley from Whaley's Outstanding Weddings. The interview was really fun and featured myself and another photographer from the Baltimore area. We went through lots of questions about photography and answered specific questions from callers. In case you missed my ridiculous flurry of twitter and FB posts and missed the show, you can listen to the archived file through the show name Picture Perfect: Wedding photography and photos to remember

Feel the Burn

2009-01-09T02:55:00.005-05:00

Freshly updated for your viewing pleasure... the balance boudoir website. I have been toiling for some time over the new slideshow and portfolio additions. Hopefully you will love them as much as I do.

Welcome also, the Exotica packages ~ what not to love about a beautiful woman covered in flowers or a body smeared in paint? We are so proud to be teaming up for these not just with our partners at Up Do's for I Do's, but also Carole Langrall @ A Garden of Earthly Delights and the talented Kim Reyes, fine artist & body painter.

So sit back, click thru and enjoy the show. Again. : )

It really gets better & better...
~ Rissa

Hit the ground running

2009-01-09T02:53:00.003-05:00

2009 is already taking us by storm. Since we returned to Baltimore we have been working nonstop. It seems like many other people have been as well. As much as we were all sitting around waiting to see what the economy would do, now we are all rushing trying to get back on our feet. Good for us all! We plan on working hard for it and are really gratefull for everyone out there doing the same. But all work and no play makes for a trite and meaningless life! So enjoy this fascinating and somewhat scary YouTube clip sent to me by a great agent friend of mine at GreerLange and have some play in your Friday.

~Nathaniel

We're Everywhere!

2009-01-07T23:55:00.002-05:00

And we're back ~

After traveling for the holidays and visiting family and friends, we're back in the swing of things here at balance. Not only in the swing of things, but we're going to be everywhere it seems in the next few weeks!

If you are a bride and thinking of your wedding photography ~ come check us out at one of the following wedding shows...

Sat. 1/10 & Sun. 1/11 at the Maryland Wedding Professionals Assoc. Bridal Expo at the Timonium Fairgrounds. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Expo will be in the York Rd. Exhibition Hall and the Vista Room. Entry fee is $15 and the show is huge, huge, huge! Loads of vendors, wedding gowns and of course, we'll be there too! : )

Tues. 1/13 at the Baltimore Museum of Industry Bridal Show, 1415 Key Highway in Federal Hill, 21230. From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Entry is free and the show is intimate, low key and very sleek. After all, it's in a museum on the waterfront!

Fri. 1/16 at the Turf Valley Bridal Extravaganza and Fashion Show, 2700 Turf Valley Rd. in Ellicott City, 21042. From 4 p.m. to 7:3o p.m., with a formal runway fashion show & seated dinner to follow the bridal show. This is a medium-size show and takes up all the various ballrooms and hallways of the huge Turf Valley facility. Entry to the show is $27 and the show and dinner are fabulous ~ worth planning to stick around for!

Sun. 1/18 at the Baltimore Bridal Showcase at the Hilton Columbia, 5485 Twin Knolls Rd., Columbia, 21045. This show is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the entry fee is only $7. This is another more intimate show with 40 vendors, models in gowns and excellent catering.

Sun. 1/25 at the Historic Savage Mill Bridal Showcase, at 8600 Foundry St., Savage, 20736. The show is from noon to 3 p.m. in the Great Room at the Mill and is always a packed crowd. We've seen brides lining up outside 30 minutes before the show! Secretly, I think it's because the show is catered by Puttin' on the Ritz and word has gotten out about their glorious garlic mashed potatoes. I'd stand in line 30 minutes for them anyhow.

Sat. 2/21 at the Wedding Innovator's Challenge at the Liason Capitol Hill, 415 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington DC. Entry is $20 and this will be no usual wedding show. "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" featured planner Vicky Johnson will be hosting and six teams of wedding designers will create showcases of the cutting edge in special event style. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Not to be missed!

Sun. 2/22 at the Dream Event Wedding Showcase at the Gathering Place, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville. The showcase will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is $5 in advance or $8 at the door. With door prizes, live entertainers and more wedding madness!

So stop by and say hello! We love wedding shows and love to see our brides out and about!

~ Rissa

Have a Small Christmas

2008-12-13T10:07:00.005-05:00

About two months ago I had the genius idea that this year we would make all our holiday gifts for friends and family. I was inspired by articles in Martha Stewart magazine ~ apparently it is "super easy" to make all natural body scrubs, lip balms and bath bombs for gifts. Martha even has tips on cute labeling and bottles. Nathaniel looked at me like I had lost my mind, pointing out that November and December for us means filling tons of orders, completing and delivering albums and doing fast-turn-around holiday portraits.

Well, it's December 13th today, eleven days until Christmas, and I have not managed to even make one bath bomb. He was totally right. What to do instead...

Being small business owners ourselves, we try to support other small business with our money. Sure, we love the bargains at Kohl's and Target. But small business really need you. In many cases, a small business is just one or two people, working what feels like a 1000-hour work-week to make their dream real.

For your shopping pleasure, we'd like to introduce you to several of our favorite small businesses, most local to Baltimore, one online in Illinois... so get going and put your dollars this holiday season into the economy & help keep a shop-keeper's dream alive!

For pet lovers

Mother Bunny is a wonderful lady. Out of her bunny hutch in Illinois, she makes the cutest, toughest dog toys you have ever seen. The bunnies come in variety of colors and textures, to suit any canine, and if your critter is smaller, try a heart or tribble toy. And not only are the toys awesome, but 100% of the proceeds are donated to non-profits that rescue racing greyhounds and put them into loving homes. Talk about guilt-free shopping! Visit Mother Bunny online and let some fluffy bunny toys hop into the home of your favorite hounds. She also makes dog collars and natural soaps shaped like dog bones (the soaps are for people).

Some of our favorite pet-shopping in the Baltimore area...
Try Pampered Paws Bakery & Boutique, located in historic Havre de Grace or the Yuppy Puppy Pet Boutique in downtown Ellicott City. Both shops have gifts, toys and more for dogs and cats.

For the stylista

Retopolitan in Ellicott City is insanely fashionable. Far from a usual antique store or vintage shop, this place is the real deal. This isn't a thrift store with worn out old crap ~ Retropolitan has style and class. It belongs in Manhattan or Boston, but the prices are way lower than folks in those area are accustomed to. Stop in to check out the wide array of vintage clothes, lingerie, shoes, hats, gloves, handbags and jewelry. You'll see some familar names, too , like Chanel and Pucci, on the racks. The homegoods are also amazing. From the collection of chandeliers illuminating the shop or the arrangements of crystal cordial glasses, you will find something spectacular for every one on your list.

Brand new on the scene is Sa Sa's, also in historic Ellicott City. It's a jewelry studio run by a charming artist named Sarah and her husband. All the work is done by her and everything is sterling silver. And totally hip. The designs are based on tattoo art. I'm very partial to her collections of earrings and she makes the most perfect, perfect silver hoops.

The store logo at Mud and Metal is "art to live by" ~ and it really is just that. Located in Hampden, this place is kitchy, crazy and completely original. We fell in love with the outrageous selection of housewares, decorative pieces, and fun, functional artwork. Everything in the shop is made by artisans and crafters from around the country. We promise, you will find something for even the person who has everything here.

For the eco-friendly

If you want to be Earth-friendly and pampered in luxury, try some bath & beauty products from Kaylala, based in Baltimore. The product line is based on emu oil, which sounds exotic (and it is), and is centuries-old Aboriginal remedy, good for everything from stretch marks to sunburn. Our favorites include their Hand Candy, the lavendar-lemonade body scrub and No. 7 ~ in the fabulous blue glass bottle. All of Kaylala's packaging can be recycled or reused and their products are 100% natural. Incredible ~ and right here in Maryland!

Always tres chic, never hippie-dippie is bluehouse, located in Inner Harbor East and a new location in Towson (we've been to both, but favor the Inner Habor locale). It's another one of those places where you are sure you just stepped out of Baltimore and straight into Soho. Everything is organic, recycled and/or sustainable, and is 100% green. They have the coolest furniture ever, Nathaniel & I have had our eye on a new bedroom set there for several months. There's stuff for home, baby, kitchen, pets, garden and even office supplies. And the Inner Harbor shop has an in-store cafe that serves fair-trade coffee and tea. Just stop by bluehouse, you will instantly feel like a cooler person.

For the Chocophile

Do you know someone who looovvvves chocolates? Try a box of truffles from Emily. She's based in Owings Mills and makes fabulous truffles and other chocolate treats by hand. We have feasted on just about every flavor she makes and though we both have different favorites, we recommend the banana cream dream, chocolate lemon tango, chocolate chili pepper, white chocolate almond, smooth earl grey, double chocolate and black sesame flavors. And that is seriously less than 1/2 of the delicious flavors she offers. The company is Truffles by Emily and you can buy in boxes of 2 to 100.

For Kids

Tired of the usual junky toys and video games? Check out aMuse, a Fells Point store committed to selling innovative toys that engage children's minds and creative energy. They offer everything from the traditional wooden blocks and cars (remember those?) to complex marble racing mazes, stuffed toys that are also nightlights that make the ceiling look like the night sky to clothing. There are toys and goodies for kids of all ages, from newborn on up. I'm rather partial to the twilight ladybug, myself.

Well... that should get you started on your shopping. As for me, I'm likely not going to be making homemade lip balms anytime soon, so I better get going myself!
~Rissa

My employees, the worms

2008-12-11T10:53:00.004-05:00

I am a big fan of my friends the worms. They turn my leaves into beautiful compost, which make my plants very happy and healthy.

Composting is easy. Sure you can buy fancy compost balls or bins, but I prefer a much easier method. I have a corner in my yard where I pile my kitchen scraps and yard waste in a big pile. Every couple of months I mix it up a bit. Last years leaves are now a great big pile of dirt. So this year as I raked my leaves into a great big new pile, I spread the compost from last year over my garden. It is hard to imagine using a rake right? I can't stand leaf blowers and honestly, it took me less time to do it manually and I don't mind the excercise.

The thing to remember with kitchen scraps is that only raw, uncooked scraps go into your compost. Eggshells are fine but no meat or cooked food. Meat and cooked food will compost fine but it will also attract rodents. So if you want to boost your blooms and buds, don't send your leaves, yard waste and broccoli stems to the dump, turn them into beautiful rich dirt, and get your hands into it!

~Nathaniel

Hilarious-ness

2008-12-10T14:03:00.003-05:00

Laughing is key. You gotta have fun, or what is life worth, anyhow? We recently photographed a couple that really, really get this: Lynne and AC.

See, we knew Lynne. We photographed her and her twin sister, Leslie, a few years back, and before that, I did Lynne's acting headshots. Lynne lives near us in Catonsville, so we run into her around town -- usually at the local Indian place. : ) But we hadn't met AC yet, so because Lynne is friend and was one of my first clients almost a decade ago, we definitely had to check him out. Needless to say ~ he passed our test in under a minute.

Not only were they have loads of fun on their photo shoot, but Nathaniel & I were laughing so hard at all the hilarious-ness between them, we could barely focus the camera. At one point, I had to stop shooting, I was literally doubled over in a stomach cramp because I was laughing so much. What a ridiculous problem to have, right?

Lynne and AC were incredibly funny interacting, but they were really sweet too, and so thoughtful of each other. After the shoot, we all sat down at Sarah & Desmond's Cafe to chat (and laugh some more) over coffee, tea & muffins. We heard tales of their trip to Texas, how they met and how Lynne's dad reacted to AC's long hair. (Nathaniel can relate!).

Thanks to you both for a riotous good time and all the belly laughs! Oh -- and we have a few more of your picts on Flickr, check them out, everyone -- they are too cute!
~Rissa

We're green with pride

2008-12-10T12:03:00.004-05:00

Balance is proud to announce we have been accepted into the organization Greener Photography!

Many of you know us, so you know our commitment to be eco-friendly in every way we can, both personally and professionally.

Our history in this movement goes back far in our lives. Nathaniel's parents are both environmental engineers (as is his bro) and they run an environmental engineering firm. Additionally, he grew up on a family farm -- in a preserved 200 year old frontier cabin, surrounded by acres and acres of farmland and forests. He's second generation green. Far from just buying recycled office paper or using CFLs, Nathaniel truly has lived the life of a conservationist from day one.

Though my tale is not so eco-fabulous as his, I started the environmental club at my high school before it was chic. Me and my dedicated group of 7 or so teen-ecologists used to literally sort thru all the cafeteria trash every few days and pull out all the recycling - glass, cans, plastics - and take them to the county recycling center. Shortly after, the school district implemented a recycling program that exists to this day. It was one of my proudest moments as a teen-ager.

Moving forward almost two decades from high school (yikes!), we are both still dedicated to preservation, recycling, reuse and conservation. Seriously, what photographer could truly say they don't love nature, don't love natural light, don't appreciate the beauty of the Earth? Even the most die-hard studio shooter has got to admit it... they occasionally take pleasure in capturing spring flowers, majestic trees, a perfect beach scape.

We were really excited to be accepted into GP and are 100% behind the principles the organization is built on, directly from their website:

Preservation

Preservation conserves all of the resources that go into creating photographic images. It is the single best thing we can do to reduce the impact of our photographs.

Reduction

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle. While we are trying to produce the most archival products in our industry, we will do so while using the least energy-intensive products available.

Local Production

Shipping and transport are some of the biggest sources of pollution. Anything that can be produced, manufactured and assembled locally will have a significantly lower environmental impact than components manufactured overseas.

Cruelty-Free

Animals and people are as much part of the eco-system as water, air, and trees. We do not see a difference between environmentally harmful products and those produced in harmful working conditions.

At balance, we are constantly trying to find ways to be greener, local and sustainable. We offer green albums to our customers ~ both local, resourced and recycled (ask us-- they're too cool!), Giclee prints made on watercolor cotton rag paper and in 2009, we are going to expand our press-printed products to include more recycled paper options!

Go green!
~ Rissa

PS To all you Apple computer fans... you need to check out their new, greener laptop! This one I'm typing on is fine, but, um, as soon as I need a new one ~ the new Macbook is made of recyclable materials, runs on 1/4 the energy of a lightbulb and contains no mercury! Go Mac!

Recycling Christmas

2008-12-08T15:43:00.004-05:00

Ever wonder what happened to film photography? And all those little plastic film canisters?

Well, we had saved ours because for the longest time, Baltimore County wouldn't recycle the plastic. Then we found a use for them... a festive, happy use for them. A Christmas tree!

Nathaniel made this little cutie from piles of Fuji Film canisters and piles of hot glue sticks. We love it. It's a reminder of all the good things in our lives this time of year.

Wishing you all a Merry, Jolly Season!
~ Rissa

The Pretty Filter

2008-12-07T23:46:00.003-05:00

It seems like I just talked about this on here. Girls who don't think they're pretty in pictures. Sigh. We just met with a bride and groom, and the bride was SO PRETTY... but she told us one of her concerns was that she often doesn't look good in pictures. If you saw her, you'd get what I mean. Her features and skin were flawless, and she had great bone structure for pictures. It boggled my mind...

Let's discuss that right now. Cuz I hear it a lot. Like at least once a week.

First things first. When I was in my first college photography class, in the first 30 minutes the professor said something I have never forgotten: There are no bad subjects, there are only bad photographers. It was a lesson I took to heart because I truly do see beauty in the faces of my subjects. If that does not come thru, it's my fault, not theirs. Over the years I have learned more and more about light, posing, angles, lensing ~ all of it makes the person in front of my camera more beautiful in their pictures.

In fact, many clients have asked us how it is that everyone in our albums, studio samples and websites are always pretty. It's lead to one of our favorite jokes. A question really... The first time I heard it, I laughed out loud. It originated with a couple getting their engagement shots done and the groom -- kind of a rough, ragged manly type -- blurted out... "Damn, do you have a pretty filter on this camera? Cuz even I look good!" He became one of our biggest fans and has sent us many clients over the years because of "the pretty filter." We always know his references because they come in and ask specifically for the pretty filter.

It's no coincidence that our clients are all pretty. And we don't really have a pretty filter (sorry!), and we don't only book with gorgeous people. The common denominator is that we work really hard and make sure everyone looks great before we call our job done. A skilled photographer can bring out you at your very best. You as a rock star. And that is before Photoshop even enters the picture, too!

We recently did holiday portraits for a returning client named Stephanie. Her old headshot was incredibly popular on our website for years because she has this huge, heartfelt smile.

When she came back to us last week, she looked really different. Her sweetness was still there, the smile was just as warm, but she had grown up from being a cute girl to being a more sophisticated and elegant woman.

When she saw her photos she reminded me of the guy who coined "the pretty filter" -- Steph said "Oh my God -- I look so, so PRETTY!"

Well, duh. Of course you do -- you are pretty. And it was our job -- our privilege, to remind you just how pretty you are!

And really, it's not just the ladies. It's guys too. Years ago we had a call from a young actor who told me first thing on the phone just how ugly he was. "I need all the help I can get -- call your make-up people and hair people, " he said. We were braced for the worst. I mean, yikes. But when he walked in... he was handsome. Not ugly at all. Photographing him was like working with a male model. His pictures changed his life. Six months later, he called and told us that he had moved out of his mom's house, got a girlfriend, started working out, found a better job -- and landed a role in a play. That's the pretty filter for you.

So hopefully this has put to rest some of those worries about looking good in pictures. We will take care of you. You'll be gorgeous.

Now, it's true that there are things YOU can do to look better in front of a camera. Here are some tips, and some of this is common sense, but is truly good advice...
1) Drink lots of water & be hydrated -- it makes your skin and hair look great naturally.
2) Get ample rest. Dark under eye circles are never cute.
3) Groom yourself! Not to be weird... but I mean brows, nose hair ... stuff like that. On men and ladies.
4) Take care of your teeth. A bright, beautiful smile is always attractive.
5) Relax. Pictures are about body language, so if you look tight and tense, the people looking at your pictures will intuitively see that. Just be chill!
6) Don't use shiny, sparkly or glittery make-up, ladies -- it reflects light back into the camera and makes you look washed out and sick.
7) Buy and use blotting papers. They're cute little sheets of rice paper that magically suck shiny oils or sweat off your skin and don't disturb make-up on girls.
8) Consider a professional make-up artist for important portraits and days -- they know about camera ready make-up and can contour your face like a movie star.
9) Learn to pose. Be like Zoolander and seriously stand in front of a mirror and practice posing -- stuff like looking relaxed and having a great on-camera smile can be done easily with practice.
10) Be yourself. Of course you want to look like Jessica Simpson or Tom Cruise or Angelina Jolie -- me too! But we're not, so make peace with yourself and be who you are! Nothing is more gorgeous than that!

And after all that... we've got the pretty filter.
~ Rissa

Wine made with Greyhounds

2008-12-07T23:44:00.009-05:00

Peanut and Smiley are greyhounds. The hounds' parents hired us to photograph them for two reasons: This year's Christmas cards and for the next vintage coming out of Peanut and Smiley's basement.
Maria and Jeff got some fabulous pictures for their cards because the two hounds were hamming it up big time. It is so funny how "media savvy" some pets can be!!

As for that vintage...Jeff makes wine in his basement as a hobby. It becomes gifts for friends and donation auction items to raise money for greyhound rescue organizations. (Which makes it an impressive pressing to me!) I thought it was really cool that Jeff got to do something fun as a hobby, and also found a way to make it work for charity, too.

One of the things that Maria said to me during our shoot was awesome. "It must be nice to do what you love," she said. It's so true. It is great! But even better than that is that other people recognize that I am doing what I love and can see it in my work and even while I'm working. For my efforts to be acknowledged by clients is so rewarding.

And Jeff and Maria have rewarded me -- they hired me for a second time as their photographer, and love my photos. Nothing makes me happier than to go into someone's house and see my work on the wall or on a mantle.

I have had work in museums, galleries, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, newsletters, websites, blogs, on clothes, labels and record albums.

And coming soon, on Canine Cellars wine bottles! Look for them exclusively at your local greyhound rescue fundraiser!
~ Nathaniel

the Wine Jester

2008-12-07T23:42:00.003-05:00

Sandy Navarro is a character. There is no other way to think of her. She's led an incredible, rich, fascinating life and has more stories to tell than women four times her age. Life has led her from South America to Hong Kong to Wall Street and now, to Baltimore.

We met Sandy recently as a hostess at a wine tasting. She is the Wine Jester and runs a small business where she leads the most fabulous and FUN, non-pretentious wine parties you have ever seen! Don't get me wrong, Sandy knows wine. It is her passion. She researches wine, studies wine, knows wine-makers, eats-sleeps-breathes wine. Her knowledge is extensive and impressive.

More impressive, though -- her lightness, her sense of humor and her ability to truly select the perfect bottles to rock a party. Sandy's belief is that wine shouldn't be so unapproachable. And I can totally relate to this. We've met various wine experts before in our travels and some (not all), managed to make me feel like a clown because I didn't taste oak or cherry or plum or whatever in the wine they gave me. No one outright called me a moron, but you know, you can see that look people get. You know what I mean, right? Sandy just loves wine and wants her friends & clients to share her love. She can find great things to say about $20 bottles of wine, not just $400 bottles of wine. Her excitement about wine isn't just for people who live in mahogany-paneled drawing rooms. It's for the rest of us, too.

Between the two of us here, Nathaniel is the wine guy. He drinks wine, knows more about wine, has more experience with wines from different regions and such. I just know I either like a wine or not. I can't always explain it. What's cool about Sandy is that at her parties, she doesn't judge on your experience or lack of experience with wine. She's witty, warm and the perfect person to make even novices like me feel excited about wine.

The business is a new concept, and we recently met up with Sandy and did some promo pix for her to help promote this new and totally fun service she offers. If you are having a holiday party, bridal shower or other gathering -- even the cocktail hour at your wedding -- consider bringing in the Wine Jester to amuse and entertain your guests with wine. Oh -- She also comes with a posse of male models in tight shirts called the "Winendales" that serve the drinks. Bonus.

Best of luck to you Sandy! We think you're the coolest!
Oh - and Nathaniel is still talking about that Shiraz you gave him...
~ Rissa

December Deals

2008-11-27T00:37:00.006-05:00

So, are you holding one of these cards? Wondering what we're talking about on the back -- the great holiday deal? Well, read on friends!

Nathaniel & I adore Black Friday. We develop a strategy on Thanksgiving, then get up at 4am on Friday, drive to pre-planned stores and tag team thru the aisles. It's like full contact holiday shopping. We just love it.

In the fabulous shopping tradition that is Black Friday, we've decided to enter the fray this year. We always offer a December sale on something, but this year... we're doing a crazy mad deal. On Friday morning only.

And now it's past. The deal is over. But the December sales still apply. So props to those who got here in time, and for the rest... we still love you. And you still get the December Deals. : )

the Recessionista boudoir shoot
$125 + MD state sales tax
includes a 1 hour shoot at the studio, one look, private-password protected proofing website and one custom retouched 8x10 display print of gorgeous you; additional prints, products or styling may be purchased a la carte

the holiday family shoot
$175 + MD state sales tax
includes a one hour shoot with any number of family members; private-password protected proofing website and two custom retouched 8x10 display prints of your adorable family; additional prints, products or services may be purchased a la carte

The December Specials will be available from today thru the end of December. Call us now to book your special session and get prints back in time for Santa to deliver! We'll be at 443.904.6743.

Happy Black Friday!
~ Rissa

Thanksgiving, from all of us

2008-11-26T21:36:00.005-05:00

It's so simple in the course of everyday life to lose site of what we are grateful for, the things & people that inspire us. We become wrapped up in our routines, errands, beltway traffic and other elements of our own personal drama. Like tunnel vision, reality closes in tightly and so many people forget the good parts.

We are all reminded at least one day a year to give thanks. To give thanks for a bountiful meal with friends & family, to give thanks to the brave men & women who founded our great nation. And to give thanks for turkeys. Gobble, gobble.

But gratitude is a deeply personal emotion. To explain what you are grateful for ~ what moves you and motivates you, what makes you get up in the morning and puts a spring in your step ~must be done in one's own words.

So this Thanksgiving, the four of us at balance photography are going to tell you - each in our own words, what we are grateful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all~ we wish you a peaceful and bountiful holiday!

Brittany

It seems that everyday I find myself “wanting” something (and I’m positive I’m not the only one... haha) And with all this wanting it’s very easy to forget about everything I DON’T want…because of things I already have. I could go on for days – but I’d like to give thanks for all the things I don’t want –

First of all…I don’t want another Prince Charming. Ryan Eby is easily the greatest and most influencial thing that has ever happened to me. “Love of my LIFE” doesn’t come close to expressing the insane amount of love and admiration I have for him. He inspires me every single day, and without him, I wouldn’t have SO many other things in my life that I “don’t want”….LIKE….

My New Job!!!! Well…not so new anymore…and of course I’m referring to balance photography and more specifically Rissa and Nathaniel. If it weren’t for Ryan, I would have never found myself living in South Baltimore in a great little row house for an insanely cheap rent. I’m so grateful that Ryan got Ashley Riddle’s card for me, and I gave her a call after thoroughly exploring her website (Up Do's for I Do's) which directed me to balance boudoir…which quickly prompted me to fall in love with Rissa’s incredible work, then Nathaniel’s..respectively (as he does not help on boudoir shoots ;-) ) I wrote her an e-mail expressing my admiration and awe of her pictures, and since I was referred by Ashley they expedited my initial interview and hired me that day. I was overjoyed..to say the least..photography is my passion in life. I never imagined that just 1 year out of college I’d be “living my dream”! Corny but true…Rissa and Nathaniel also inspire me everyday, encourage me to be better, and let me express myself through graphic design and photography. WOW – I couldn’t ask for more! Ooh but the icing on the cake – they are absolutely AWESOME and spending time with them is like hanging out with my best friends. And you know I’m not blowing smoke up your butts… I Love You guys!!! Thank you for letting me live my dream!

Something that I’ve never wanted – another family. My mom and dad have molded me into the driven, successful person I am today. My dad is the hardest working man I’ve ever known (although Ryan’s a veryyy close second) We drive each other crazy sometimes..but that’s because we’re both perfectionists and are almost exactly alike…Oooh and neither one of us is EVER wrong ;-) My mom has never let me down..she will bend over backwards, go out of her way, cancel her plans, whatever just to make sure me, my brother and my dad are happy and comfortable. It’s never gone un-noticed to me, though I may not have always said it – I’m thankful everyday for the love and goodhearted kindness she has instilled in me. And my brother…haha…my 13 year-old brother…well I love him very very very much..even though I definitely don’t say that enough because we are usually pushing each other's buttons and bickering.

And to wrap it up…I don’t want another little beagle – Sierra has become my baby, and I didn’t think it was possible to love a dog so damn much…but her big floppy ears and sad eyes warm my heart!

On a quicker note – I’m thankful for cookies & cream gelato, Chik-Fil-A, garlic knots, my new engagement ring(!), my amazing gym, my good health of course and being born in the grand ol’ U-S-of A!!! Happy Turkey Day Everyone!!!!!

Josie

As a college student, I feel like people think I'm supposed to be "having fun" and "living only for today." Carpe diem and all that. And of course, keeping my grades up at the same time. Unfortunately, I usually find myself impatiently waiting for every class to end and every Monday to go by faster; I'm always impatient for Saturday.

I had to change something in my life. I decided to start a ritual for myself: thanking God for the falling leaves, for 50% off sales, for an extra hour of sleep. Little things I am grateful for.

Don't get me wrong. I still count down the seconds on the clock until my algebra class is over, but I have a better appreciation and more love for each day and each little miracle that passes my way.

Some things I am grateful for... living in a country with Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion; toilet paper (ha ha... but seriously...); my roommate; the smell of garlic simmering in olive oil; the chance to attend college and be educated; Italian food; photography; wedding cake and dark chocolate; people who care; every little thing that reminds me how much bigger life is than our human stresses.

Blessings for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Rissa

Every moment is a blessing. Everywhere I look, there is something or someone to be grateful for...
Warm towels right out of the dryer
Houses with heat, AC, electric, plumbing
Lochrima (our greyhound)
Seashells found on the beach
Hot green tea
Snoopy
My grandmother's laugh
Working side-by-side with Nathaniel everyday
My Nikons & all the other fun toys we play with
Bellydancers
Soy candles ~ available even at Target now
Our clients
How easy it has become to find veggie burgers at restaurants
Burts Bees almond hand cream
Word-find puzzles
The sound wine glasses make when they clink during toasts
Volunteers. All of them ~ Red Cross, Animal Rescue, Crossing Guards ~
Cookbooks with color pictures
Sunrise light
Hearing someone's good news
Homegrown veggies from the yard
Kitchen timers
Long dangling earrings
Photoshop actions
Avocado sandwiches on wheat toast
Pink cell phones, fluffy slippers and lip gloss
The scent of cookies in the oven
High heels
Pottery made on a wheel
Talking with a friend for hours
Calculators (thank heaven!)
A goodnight kiss from Nathaniel
Public parks
Nurses, Hairstylists, Vets & Accountants ~ I would be lost without your services!
Mac laptops
Fresh flowers in a vase
Our time with Brit & Josiecat
All the branches on the road that landed me here, today
Food Network & History Channel & remote control
Silly plush dog toys -- and dogs in sweaters
Down comforters
Books -- lots and lots of books
Old mosaics
Art & Music in public schools

I am so grateful to wake up every morning, living my life. My job is amazing, my husband is incredible and always by my side. We have a home we love, a cute little car and a totally sweet dog. On this holiday, I wish everyone good health, good fortune and a wonderful meal with someone (or someones) you love.
Happy Thanksgiving ~

Nathaniel

Little things in life make me happy. Little things that happen every day that many people take for granted. I am thankful for everyday life.
Hot coffee in the morning.
Warm grilled cheeze for lunch.
Good conversation and wine.
Cast Iron griddles and skillets.
Fresh lemonade.
Sweet scented candles.
A warm bed and a snuggling hound dog.
A woman who treats you like a king.
For people who smile and laugh with me at the post office when everyone else is grumpy.
For teenagers who have respect.
For the mailman and ups man who always wave, smile and say hi.
For friends who call just to chat.
For teachers with passion.
For flowers.
For art.
For love.
For being loved.

The things we have in our lives are amazing. Our wealth is beyond any I have ever seen in any other part of the world. It is amazing how we come into this world in a place we didn't choose. I count a thousand blessings daily for being an American, having the opportunities and freedoms that go along with that.

The thing I feel the most blessed and grateful for is my family. Even though they are 700 miles away I think about them every day. No matter where I go their love is with me and my love with them. Each one has shaped and influenced my life in some way and is a part of me and who I am. So if you think I'm crazy you have these people to blame! I see the faces of my family and take their spirits with me wherever I go. They are my source of unconditional love and there is no end to the love in my heart for them.

Although most of my family is down south, the most important part is right here with me, my wife. I am grateful for her loving me in all my craziness. I am so lucky to have such an incredible woman by my side.

I am grateful to be free to follow my dreams and live them every day of my life. To do what I want to do, be who I want to be, have the family I have, and walk through life with my incredible wife, I am the luckiest man I know.

The Corn Family, photo by Jack Corn

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

Pumpkin Pie (or Why I Married My Husband)

2008-11-26T21:01:00.003-05:00

Every family has their own holiday traditions. Some traditions are very specific, others are broadly accepted and personalized by everyone. Pumpkin pie is one of those things for sure. Everyone has a memory of pumpkin pie, right?

Nathaniel's family, most of whom are in Tennessee, have this wonderful tradition of real pumpkin pies. Not that frozen crap you buy at Giant. But real pumpkin pie.

No joke. I think this is one of the reasons I married Nathaniel. His off-the-hook pumpkin pie. A million years ago, he walked into the college photo lab carrying a homemade pumpkin pie that he had baked himself. And I mean seriously homemade ~ the crust was hand-rolled; the pumpkin was grown at home and baked to the perfect sweetness. Nathaniel's pies are the real deal. Until you have a real homemade pie with non-canned pumpkin, you just haven't lived a full life.

As I type this, Nathaniel is in the kitchen right now toiling over his annual batch of Thanksgiving pumpkin pies. In addition to the ones he makes for us, he now has to make several for my grandmother. She adores his pies. She starts asking for them in August.

So for the first time ever, here is Nathaniel's pumpkin pie recipe. It is not difficult, but it is time-consuming. And worth every second.

Nathaniel’s Pumpkin Pie
(Makes 2, one for you and one more for you!)

4 cups cooked fresh pumpkin (see notes below)
4 eggs
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup natural unprocessed sugar
1 T cinnamon
1/4 t ginger
1/4 t ground cloves
1/4 t allspice

1 t vanilla extract
2 pre-baked pie crusts (your favorite - we do whole wheat)

Combine wet ingredients. Mash pumpkin but don’t puree. Add dry ingredients. Mix together and pour into pie crusts. Bake for 15 minutes @ 425 degrees. Turn oven back to 350 and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Sprinkle cinnamon on top and chill before serving!

Nathaniel reminds me to tell you all that it's also good with crushed & toasted almonds on top or the traditional whipped cream. Or to mix things up, add a handful of chocolate chips into the batter before baking. He says that if you can't find pumpkins to bake, you can also use butternut squash or sweet potatoes in the same ratios for this recipe.

How to cook pumpkin:
For two pies, you will need 3 sugar pumpkins or a large carving pumpkin. Scoop out the innards of the pumpkin and slice flesh into palm size chunks. Place flesh side down in baking dish half full of water. Bake in oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool then peel the skin off. You are ready to make pie or you can freeze the pumpkin and make pies later!

Don’t forget to save and roast your seeds!
~ Rissa

Italian Food and Supermodels

2008-11-24T08:46:00.005-05:00

You always hear stories of supermodels being "discovered" in the grocery store by some fashion mogul. Every girl has heard this story and secretly always wishes that one day out of the blue it would happen to her. The truth is that this rarely ever happens. One out of 10,000 girls is actually found this way. The rest have to claw their way to top on an empty stomach.

But seriously, that one that is "discovered" is amazing. They photograph like magic and there is something about them that captures you when you look into their picture.

Enter Bridgette. She was out with her family eating dinner at Chef Paolino (our favorite Italian place) Little did she know that Rissa and I saw her from across the room and couldn't stop talking about how stunning she was. We think you will agree she has supermodel written all over her.

We had to photograph her. And we did. We got to her first. So when you start seeing her on the covers of fashion magazines and in advertisments, remember -- you saw her here first.
~Nathaniel

Guests at the Party? Us?

2008-11-23T18:13:00.010-05:00

Everyone knows we go to lots of weddings. But until a few weeks ago, Nathaniel & I had never actually attended a wedding together as guests. Crazy, right? We've been talking for years about how incredibly fun it would be to attend the wedding of a friend -- without the job of creating their photographs.

See, we've made a rule to our pals that we will attend their wedding as guests or they can hire us and we will document it for them. But we don't "just come and hang out, but also take all the pictures." Being the photographer whose job it is to cover a wedding is no small deal. Asking someone to both be a guest and the official photographer is, in our experience, truly impossible.

At a wedding five years ago, Nathaniel was a groomsman. In addition to being a groomsman and all that entailed, he was also trying to shoot it with me. We have a pretty airtight system for covering every angle of a wedding perfectly. The two of us can move like a well-oiled machine. But with Nathaniel out-of-play at this wedding on so many essential moments, it left only me to cover as one person what we normally do as two. The pictures were still lovely & our friends were thrilled, but to make a long story short, after that wedding the either/or rule happened. We just didn't think it was fair to have only part of our usual photographic coverage for our friends.

Since then, we have been at many friends' weddings ~ as their photographers. But we have not gotten to just sit down, enjoy a meal, dance ~ we were constantly working for our friends and family on their special days. It was an honor to document those weddings, still, someplace inside, you still wonder what it would be part of the party, not only recording it...

What a different experience it is to be a wedding guest!

This is us as wedding guests and yes, Nathaniel is hiding a camera in his left hand!

Our friend Ken recently got married to his adorable lady, Nelly. And he insisted we come and just have fun. Ken himself is a wedding vendor, so he gets it, the whole "come-be-a-guest-and-also-work" thing. It's not really a realistic request and he truly understands why we feel that way from his own life experiences in the industry.

So we arrive at Ken's wedding and our first impulse was to look for good angle for the ceremony. Duh. We had to remind ourselves -- we're not working at this one. The ceremony began and two times, I jumped out of my seat and lunged to the edge of the aisle to get a shot of the bride (yes, I admit it, we both had cameras!). Darn Rissa -- you're not working, relax! Alas, we stopped fighting it and took photos whenever we felt like it. Making sure, of course, to stay out of the way of Ken & Nelly's hired photogs and videographers.

We had to really focus on being guests and not photographers. We gave each other a pep talk at the cocktail hour and decided to refocus our efforts on being awesome guests. The kind of guests that make great images for the hired photogs & videographers. We stood and applauded the toasts; we cheered on the cake cutting; we danced all night. Turns out that being a guest at the party is quite a lot fun!

And in the mix a little, we still took quite a few pictures, without the pressure of being the official photographers. : )

Congrats Ken & Nelly ~ oh, and we have some photos from the wedding for you! Thank you both for inviting us to be part of your special day ~ and giving us the freedom to enjoy it as your friends!
~ Rissa

3-2-1 Liftoff

2008-11-21T10:51:00.006-05:00

We have yet another website!

Folks have been telling us for ages that moving between all our various websites is either confusing, difficult or even impossible. So we've solved the problem.

Introducing the balance photography portal page at www.balancephotography.net.

It links to all our different sites and gives you a little preview of what you'll find on each. There's also a preview of what our next two new websites will be in 2009: a new headshots-fashion-commerical page to replace our original site from 2005 and a dedicated family & seniors webpage. But more about that later.

First, let's just bask in the glory of the portal page. Nathaniel worked really hard to make it happen. The rollover buttons are my favorite part. Check it out.

~ Rissa

Wedding Nightmares/Dreams 2

2008-11-19T18:58:00.008-05:00

As the end of the wedding season 2008 is moving in on us, I felt it was time for another installment of Wedding Dreams & Nightmares. This is about mistakes brides make and they could have prevented if only they had listened... And because there is so much to dish about, this is a series. Last time we wrote about hairstylists from hell and also interviewed the fabulous hairstylist from heaven, Ashley Riddle.

No other wedding vendor sees everything that the photographer sees. We are there all day ~ from the make-up in the morning thru the clearing of the tables at the end of the night. Photographers seriously have the inside scoop on other wedding vendors. Oh -- and we have the pictures to back it up. : )

Today, we're groovin to the beat. Today's topic is disc jockeys.

In doing the research for this blog, I noticed there really isn't much out there to guide brides (or other folks shopping for a DJ) on how to hire a DJ or what questions to ask. Being a photographer, we're accustomed to clients showing up with lengthy lists of "must-ask" questions from the Knot designed specifically to help brides interview potential shooters. In one hour online, I couldn't find any such list for DJs. What gives with that? I can tell you firsthand, there are some incredible Dream DJs out there ~ and some downright disgraceful Derelict DJs, too.

What is so bad, you ask? How could playing music get screwed up? Well, try this one on: We were at a wedding where the DJ took off his shirt (bare chest - hairy belly and all) and starting spanking the bride's bottom in the middle of the dance floor. Nathaniel & I exchanged glances... just waiting for the groom or the bride's dad to start throwing punches. Flip to an elegant wedding at the Belvedere. Very posh, very upscale. And when it was time for the bride and groom to cut the cake, the DJ puts on "My Humps" by the Black-Eyed Peas. He hadn't even noticed the couple had started cutting the cake. You should see the photos of their faces and the faces of folks behind them.

These are just a few offerings from our archives of the many Derelict DJs we have had the bad luck of working with.

Enter John Paul Berry. He is a DREAM DJ. John Paul is the vice president of Absolute Entertainment and has been in the DJ business for more than a decade. We love working with him. He stopped by this afternoon and I interviewed him for this blog. (Thanks for your time, John Paul!)

"People come in and ask me if I have blow-up toys and props, if I talk into the mike through songs or jump into all the pictures and my only comment is 'Who are these people?' " he said.

According to John Paul, all of his clients have a pre-conceived notion of what they are looking for in a DJ. Do you want a party-starter? Do you want someone who isn't going to talk at all? What's your fit?

"My style is to be more of a coordinator at the wedding," he said. "I am running the reception and creating a customized event where the music itself will be a reflection of the bride and groom to their guests. That's what keeps it interesting for me. If I had to roll out the same canned set of songs for 60 weddings a year, it would be boring."

John Paul does the booking for not just his own shows, but also many of the other DJs that are employed at Absolute Entertainment. When someone is shopping for a DJ, he says the right fit is important, and you should insist on a face-to-face meeting at some point in the planning process.

Because shopping for a DJ is a new concept to me, as well as to most brides, I asked what people should be looking for. It’s clear there are no standards to go by, and it’s difficult to know what someone’s style is like from a website or phone call.

“It’s hard to say how you can know a good DJ from a bad one, because there are DJs out there who are just going through the motions,” he said. “A lot of DJs are meeting clients at coffee shops or bookstores with their laptop and it’s really hard to get a feel for their style in that scenario. You have to wonder if you’re comparing apples to apples when you’re meeting with people.”

John Paul always does a live mixing demo at his office when he meets with people. He thinks it’s an ideal way for clients to see him in action and get a feel for how he plays music. And because DJing it his full time business, John Paul devotes a good deal of time to keeping up with technology and new trends.

“We’re getting more into wireless systems now, and the lighting we can offer is great, too. I just saw pictures from a wedding where they used our dance floor lights and it looked very chic and sexy,” he said.

Talented DJs are in high demand in the wedding, party and corporate worlds ~ so even though magazines say 4 to 6 months before the Big Day is the ideal time to book a DJ, you should not wait if you want to get a Dream DJ like John Paul. During busy months, like May, June, September and October, good DJs can book a year or more in advance for Saturday nights. For example, John Paul booked two of his weddings for October 2009 in August of 2008. If your wedding is during an off-month/off-day, you may have a little more flexibility and still may be able to get a great DJ 4 to 6 months before your event.

One of the most common things associated with wedding DJs is the play list. We’ve been at weddings where brides were so strict with the play list that songs were looped two times and no requests from guests were allowed. Needless to say, that’s not fun for anyone but the bride.

John Paul suggests that requiring too strict of a play list is like handcuffing the DJ.

“What happens if the song doesn't fit the audience? I like to have a play list, I tell my brides I’ll use it as a guide. I tell them circle things you like, put stars next to songs you love and cross out the ones you hate.”

The don’t-play list is more important to him, he said, than the do-play list.

“Based on my experience, I can know what the couple will like. But this is the United States, the melting pot of the world. I need to be able to make everyone happy and play the music the guests will respond to. It’s important never to tell a guest that the bride thinks their song request is lame or corny. If a guest makes a request on the bride’s don’t play list, I allow them to make another selection off the bride’s favorite list,” he explained.

Because America is a melting pot, many DJs are faced with blending cultures at an event. This takes experience, finesse and education to pull off. And we’ve seen inexperienced DJs totally flop at this very thing. At weddings where there was a meeting of two cultures and one was exotic, like Turkish or Vietnamese, a DJ who can’t successfully balance both traditions will not keep the guests engaged.

“At (Absolute) we love doing multi-cultural events. It’s an exciting challenge to put together a reception that will truly please everyone,” said John Paul. “ Saying ‘I’ll play some Latin music’ is about as descriptive as saying ‘I’ll play some American music.’ What does that mean? American music is as different as country to metal. It’s not different in other cultures. You can’t stereotype it by saying ‘Oh, Latin music – sure, I’ll play some Ricky Martin.’ ”

Our final question to John Paul and one of the worst things we’ve seen at weddings… iPods. Nathaniel & I have been to several weddings this year where there was no entertainment of any kind but an iPod plugged into a dock with speakers. Inevitably, no one dances or gets into the reception at all. Frequently, guests leave early.

“An iPod wedding is one of the worst things you can do,” he agrees. “What happens is that it’s difficult to manage playlist, your iPod doesn’t make announcements or run your party for you. You just can't predict the people at any reception. Every wedding, every crowd is different.”

In closing, you must find a Dream DJ for your wedding. Do it for yourself, do it for your guests, do it so your grandma is not subjected to "My Humps" when you cut your wedding cake. Find someone you trust, someone you feel in tune with. Someone who will take care of you and your event.

“A good DJ will go far beyond playing songs from a list. They will meet and exceed your expectations,” John Paul said. “I spend the time before an event and do the work so I can really get into the couple's world. I treat each event like the special day that it is for the couple and their families.”

You can find John Paul, as well as his awesome colleagues, Ken and Jason at Absolute Entertainment. They are all three Dream DJs and their company is based in Linthicum. We also adore Chris at Beat2Beat, who is based out of Catonsville.

Rock on
~Rissa

Shady Photographers

2008-11-18T14:32:00.004-05:00

What is the deal with CSI and shady photographers?

Though we don't watch tons of TV, Nathaniel & I are big fans of CSI. I love the Miami version and he likes Gary Sinse's crew in New York the best. But what do the writers of CSI have against professional photographers?

The first episode I ever saw of CSI, the villan was a fashion photographer who was raping models and killed one. Though I loved the CSI concept and the filming was gorgeous, I was so annoyed by this cliche "bad photographer" storyline, I didn't watch the show again for many months. So, I sit down to watch CSI again... and hey-hey, how ironic -- the villan is a wedding photographer murdering couples on their first anniversary! And then I saw my first episode of the New York CSI and check this out: a food photographer was killing people in wheelchairs.

It's been awhile since these three shows, and I had forgiven CSI. We were finally forging a better relationship, me and crew down in Miami. Until last night, when a family portrait photographer kidnapped a baby. GEEZ! Why do the CSI writers despise us, the professional photographers of the world??

We know lots of professional photographers. All over the country, even some in other parts of the world. They have all sorts of specialties, from weddings to commerical to fashion to photojournalism to baby portraits. They are all hard-working people. They have families, homes, dogs, car payments. They just happen to take pictures as a profession.

In every profession, in every walk of life there are always a few bad apples... people who are shady in one way or another. It's true, yes, that there are some shady photographers out there. But there are shady everythings out there and it's not like all photographers are shady! Seriously, we know hundreds of photographers. None are murderers or baby-nappers or rapists!

Our photographer friends are good, honest, real folks. They spend hours and hours in front of computers so clients look magazine-gorgeous. They carry 30+ pounds of lenses and lights and equipment around on jobs. They deal with parts of this profession I will not even talk about here, but I can tell you -- it's not all glamour by any stretch of the imagination! I've seen a photographer friend spend so much time in front a computer doing Photoshop, his eye burst a blood vessel. (Our rule with the computers here is that when our eyes are burning or watering, we step away from the computers... but that's still not pleasant!)

This job is fun -- it's true, but it is hard work! If spent all day plotting crimes and avoiding the police, there wouldn't be much time for making pictures, production work, answering emails, designing albums, or other functions of the business.

Interestingly, the CSI writers aren't the only folks out there who think photographers are shady. We were at a Barnes & Noble Bookseller recently to browse around. We sat down with some books and one I selected was a recently published guide for brides about hiring wedding vendors. I flipped open to the chapter on wedding photography and the first sentance said "Brides should know that wedding photographers are lazy and dishonest by nature." This is a direct quote and no -- I'm not going to plug her book for her by sharing the title -- I was furious that she published such a load of crap!

Maybe her wedding photographer was lazy and dishonest, but I don't know any who are, and I know dozens. In the words of our wedding photographer friend John, "People somehow get the idea that wedding photographers make a killing but most of us just make a living." It's true! Nathaniel & I regularly work 10 to 14 hour days (not to mention the hours worked by Josie & Brittany), sometimes answering as many as 100 emails in a day, processing and retouching thousands of pictures a week, running the business and many other tasks. If we were lazy, we would have been out of business years ago. If we were dishonest, the government would have caught up by now with our paperwork. And if we were killing people, you wouldn't be reading this right now.

So, please, give the professional photographers a little breather. We are regular folks doing our jobs.
~ Rissa

PS... Here is a shot of Nathaniel & Brittany at a crime scene, covering the evidence...I mean, uh, getting some cool angles at a recent wedding. Same difference.

Make Peace with Your Butt

2008-11-15T14:27:00.006-05:00

Growing up I was really shy. I mean, seriously shy. There were days that went by in elementary school when I spoke only when spoken to by a teacher. The responses were probably in a whisper. Getting past my shyness was a lifelong challenge. In high school I forced myself to become a tour guide & talked to strangers in small museum. At 18, I moved to New York City and had to talk to people ~ lots of people. At 20, I got a job as a newspaper reporter and had to not only approach random strangers and talk to them, I had to get quotes from them and write about it. So believe me, no one understands shyness better than me.

That said, it is surprising to a lot of people when they learn that in my 20s, I was also a professional bellydancer. No joke. I took years of dance lessons, practiced for hours ~ and never intended to become a performer. It was supposed to be for fun and exercise. That all changed though when I saw a bellydancer on stage named Piper. She was elegant, fluid, beautiful, classic. Piper's dancing took my "fun exercise" and elevated it to a timeless, feminine, exquisite art form. She was so amazing, she made me want to perform publicly.

This was a huge step to me. Dancing in front of people ~ but doing so in a scanty outfit and dealing with any insecurity I had about not only being shy -- but my body as well. Bellydance costumes are not merciful -- they call it a "bra, belt and skirt" because that's all there is to it. To wear one, dance in it and carry it off, you have to be incredibly secure. That was one of the biggest steps of my life -- putting on that outfit and dancing in public.

But I did it. And after some time, I loved it. Bellydancing was much more than good exercise, it completely changed my life. Sure, I'm still a little shy when I walk into a room of new people. It's nothing like it used to be. Though I retired from bellydancing two years ago, the courage and confidence remain.

I wish I could give this experience to every woman. Every woman is critical of herself. How may times have I heard it... "My nose is too big/small," "My butt is too big/small," "I'm too tall/short," "My ears look funny." You get the picture. I hear it a lot being in the photography business. Women especially always have some excuse about their personal appearance that is the reason they hate being photographed. I hear the excuses from headshot and portrait clients and brides and bridesmaids. And definitely from my boudoir clients.

Ladies, seriously ~ ease up off yourself a bit. Embrace who you are and realize that no matter how shy you think you are, how imperfect you imagine your nose/butt/arms/ears/whatever ~ no one sees it that way except you.

To prove it... here is me, in a bellydance costume, photographed and immortalized forever. These were my promo pictures. I do see flaws in myself in these pictures, I saw them the minute they were shot four years ago. But honestly, no one else has ever pointed them out. Knowing that, I was able to make a little more peace with my imagined flaws.

So there. Now, a few less excuses from you. A little more gorgeous confidence, please.
~Rissa

PS. If you want to step outside of your usual, I highly suggest a few bellydance classes. : )

A New Partner

2008-11-13T22:47:00.003-05:00

We've been super busy with the fall season and there's much excitement to share.

But first, a quick note to all our old clients and of course, for the new ones: we're switching online hosts. Our new online partner is collages.net and we're very excited to be hosting our image catalogs with them.

All of the client websites we will host with Collages will have slideshows and music (that you can turn off or leave on, as you like). You can email images to a friend, order DVD slideshows of your favorite pictures, view pictures in color, black & white or sepia tone ~ really, we love the new Collages proofing sites.

We're in the process of switching all of our old client proofing sites over to Collages.net so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of this wonderful new photography partner. If you go looking for your old website and don't see it ~ call us, we have been emailing new links and passwords for the past two weeks.

Talk to you again soon
~Rissa

One delicious deal

2008-10-23T21:15:00.007-04:00

Grand openings are always such happy times. When a small business owner opens their store front, it's a day when a dream becomes tangible. That's an incredible thing.

Today I had the privilege of seeing a dream come true. I photographed the opening of El Nayar Mexican Restaurant on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville. We've been watching over the past weeks as the owners, the Flores family, and their friends transformed the space ~ building booths, painting, hand installing a large tiled counter. They worked tirelessly as the world went by on Frederick Rd.

Nathaniel & I were so excited ~ a Mexican restaurant within walking distance of our house is pretty cool stuff. We could not wait for today to arrive! And as it turned out, the local Chamber of Commerce needed photos from the event, so I ended up going as an official photographer, too!

So I know you are all waiting to hear about the most important feature of El Nayar ~ which is not the tile countertops. It's the FOOD.

The food was great! Their housemade salsa was fresh and delicious ~ a perfect blend of tangy and slightly spicy. The guac -- which I am totally fussy about -- was also wonderful and for us, there were plenty of vegetarian options, including Mexican delicacies, like cactus salad! See, the Flores family makes authentic Mexican food. Other folks at the opening tried the chicken mole, carna barbacoa and Nayarit shrimp soup. (The Flores' are originally from a region of Mexico called Nayarit and their hometown is El Nayar ~ the restaurant is named in its honor and their cooking style is local to the region.)

This is the real deal and speaking of deals ~ the prices are beyond reasonable. You can get a delicious & generous veggie burrito for only $3.99. Why bother stopping for fast food when you could stop at a small, family-owned eatery like El Nayar and for the same price have a homemade meal?? Dinner entrees start at the 3-taco plate for only $8.99 and the restaurant will feature daily & weekend specials as well as breakfast on Saturdays! Ever try a chorizo breakfast burrito?

We want to congratulate the Flores family on this monumental accomplishment and tell you all ~ seriously ~ stop by this wonderful little corner store in Catonsville! They're at 801 Frederick Rd, on the corner of Mellor Ave.

See you there!
~Rissa

Pretty in Pink

2008-10-20T19:41:00.005-04:00

The month of October always brings pumpkins, scary costumes and now… pink wedding dresses?

Okay, it may not make sense at first, but it has probably been impossible to avoid all the pink merchandise this month. The reason being that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

An article out of Brides magazine was brought to my attention the other day, and I knew I'd love it, what girl could resist the title Something Pink? As I read through, I was amazed by the concept of "the pink wedding gown." Brides magazine selected 21 designers to create pink-themed wedding gowns, the sales of which will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). (And don't worry if pink isn't your color, in most cases, the wedding gowns are sold in more color varieties than pink, like white, ivory, or blue.)

Personally, breast cancer research and awareness is a cause very close to my heart. At the age of 33, my mother's sister, Auntie Marianne, found a lump in her breast while receiving a mammogram.

Me, Aunt Marianne and my sister Gina

Two years later, at the age of 59, my grandmother, my "nonnie", found the same lump; both had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Me and Nonnie

My aunt went through chemotherapy and radiation only to find out that her cancer had come back a second time. My nonnie refused chemotherapy because of her age, yet went through radiation.

They are both breast cancer survivors.

Being a woman who has a high risk of breast cancer myself, I appreciate the efforts of awareness our country sets out to establish. I love when brides support their most important charities through the little decorations they've chosen for their wedding. I love to find out that people, including magazines, small businesses, and even Girl Scout troops, are continually creating new ideas to support such an important cause.

Go Pink!
~Josie

Cocoa and Moving Boxes

2008-10-19T21:47:00.003-04:00

Feels like it has been quite awhile since I've visited here.
It's all good though... we've been traveling, a lot, and more soon on that.
And we moved into a new office/production space!

Josie, Nathaniel & I, as well as Brittany's fiance´ Ryan, spent all day moving boxes and furniture and filing cabinets up to the new place. It's strictly for work, not for shooting or meetings. But wow ~ we love it already. So much room! We all will have our own personal workstations now. And 3 different rooms for computer production, office work and hand-assembly. We've never been able to spread out this much and it's really exciting.

Nathaniel spent a good deal of the evening converting a closet into dream-storage for negatives, hard-drives and back-up CDs. Josie was totally awesome and cleaned the break room and kitchenette area, as well as making something like 5 million trips up and down the steps with a decade worth of negative cases. And thank goodness for Ryan ~ he helped Nathaniel carry in desks, cabinets and a huge wood & steel worktable.

We'll post pictures soon. As soon as we wade through the boxes. : )

For now, Nathaniel and I are drinking cocoa in the new office. Lochrima is asleep on the floor by the new bulletin board. We'll hang it up tomorrow. No need to disturb the chill mood...

Hope you are all having as incredible a day as us!
Till soon
~Rissa

A Difficult Good-Bye

2008-10-03T14:49:00.005-04:00

Usually when I see my friend Jan's name come up on my caller ID, it's like an early birthday gift. Jan is incredibly upbeat, kind and gentle-natured. She is, without question, one of the most positive people I have ever known. She herself is a gift.

Nathaniel & I met Jan because she is a fellow "crazy greyhound person," and though it was our mutual love of dogs that brought us together, her friendship has come to mean much more over time.

A few years back when we started our business, Jan was one of our first pet photography clients. She was one of the first people to have faith in us & our pet pictures.

I confess that initially I felt quite "Paris Hilton" about pet photography. I mean, I have always loved all my animals and over the years I have had dogs, cats, fish, frogs, a bird and even a horse. But pet photography? Still, we started a branch of our business exclusively devoted to documenting beloved furry & feathered companions and the lives they share with their people.

And of course, when you observe firsthand how much love is shared between animals and the humans they live with, you can't feel "Paris Hilton" about pet photography for very long. Our animals not only share our lives, they truly enhance it with their unconditional love, protection, companionship and incredible beauty.

When we first worked with Jan, she had two male greyhounds, Ben and Jerry. They were from the same litter and had never been apart. Until today.

Ben (in blue) and Jerry (in cherry red) go for a wade.

The boys pose pretty! This picture has been published in magazines, calendars & even a book!

Jan called me today and immediately from her voice I knew it was not the usual upbeat Jan I have come to know and love. Jan was crying. Jerry died this morning. He was eight years old with no known or discernible health issues.

While there is nothing I can say or do to take the pain away or make Jan hurt less, I still wish I could. It is never easy to say the last good-bye to a dear friend, no matter if they are a dog.

And even in the midst of her loss, Jan gave me a gift. She thanked me and told me that though she always valued the photographs of Ben & Jerry from the past several years, they mean more today than they ever have. In that moment I felt silly that I ever even thought for one moment that pet photography was "Paris Hilton." Jan gave me the gift of knowing that Nathaniel & I's pictures would keep Jerry with her always.

Jan ~ you are so, so welcome. I wish I could do more to make you hurt less!

Good-bye Jerry! Thanks for being such a sweet boy & providing my dear friend Jan with your friendship, protection and love for the past several years... I'll miss you!

~ Rissa

Happy 4th Year, Baby ~

2008-10-02T20:34:00.006-04:00

10.02.04 was our wedding day. At this moment four years ago, we were newlyweds. We were still dancing, seven hours into our reception.

Photo by Paul Conrad

We got married in Brentwood, TN (just outside of Nashville) on Nathaniel's family farm. It rained all morning, but the sky cleared up in time for our outdoor afternoon wedding. Everything was so pretty, crisp ~ perfect autumn wedding.

Photo by Paul Conrad

About 250 of our friends and family attended the wedding. To date, we have only been at three weddings larger than our own, so when you all talk to us about "out of control guest lists," well... we get it. But having that many people all there for you is an incredible experience. There is nothing in my life I can relate it to.

Our first dance was to "At Last" by Etta James. My long time friend Leslie Gray Streeter sang it for us. She's not just a great friend ~ Leslie truly could have been a professional vocalist. This photo from our first dance is still one of our favorites from the entire day.

Photo by Paul Conrad

Being wedding photographers ourselves we really went overboard on color and decor. We wanted the day lavish in visuals to make for wonderful photographs. After all, many of our friends and family are photographers. Though we hired a photographer, we ended up with several thousand pictures ~ all from amazing photogs. Talk about lavish!

Photo by Amy Deputy

To my Nathaniel ~ Happy Anniversary, Baby...

I found a dream that I could speak to, a dream that I can call my own. I found a thrill to press my cheek to. A thrill that I have never known. You smiled, and then the spell was cast. And here we are in heaven for you are mine at last...

Photo by Amy Deputy

xoxo, Your Bride

Full Speed

2008-10-02T14:28:00.002-04:00

Nathaniel loves this.
Seriously loves it.
He asked me to post it on here so everyone could watch this video clip.

If you have ever doubted for one second how fast a greyhound runs, you won't after watching one outrun a sports car.
~ Rissa

Getting Out of the Virtual Casket

2008-10-01T10:50:00.005-04:00

It seems now-a-days, you can do virtually anything...well - virtually! Pay your bills, buy anything you need, even find your soul mate, all online. So naturally, photographs evolved for our virtual world - making film cameras nearly obsolete. We've moved onto digital cameras which equal digital images - and usually not much else.

Before, when you would capture a great shot you couldn't wait to finish exposing your roll of film and get it developed. Remember how exciting it would be to pick up your pictures? You'd be lucky to make it to the car before tearing into them and feverishly flipping thru each one. Then you'd go home and repeat the process...at a calmer pace. Now - with our digital cameras - we snap a good shot and the first word(s) out of the "photographer's" mouth is "MYSPACE!" or "FACEBOOK!" ...Really!?! Is that really all our great shots are worthy of?? *sigh* Believe me - I do love the instant gratification of a digital capture, but what irks me is what follows....usually nothing! You upload the image to your computer and it lives out its life on your hard drive...forgotten about amongst the hundreds, maybe thousands, of other images.

The true beauty of a photograph is not always what has been captured - rather it's ability to become eternal. (my philosophical thought for the month ;-) )

Think about that shot of your parents at the altar, perhaps your grandparents. The paper may be tattered or yellowed - but it's tangible. You can hold it in your hands and feel its impact. Now think about showing YOUR grand kids your wedding pictures while posted up in front of a computer screen. Kind of takes away from the nostalgia...doesn't it?

So getting to my point (yes I do have one), Rissa and Nathaniel got me an adorable photo album a few weeks back. Turns out that DAY I got engaged! My fiance had arranged for my mom, brother and best friend to be at his proposal site to capture the moment - with tons of pictures of course! So my mom burned me a CD, I uploaded the pics to my computer and looked at them over and over on my 12" macbook screen. I finally decided the momentous pictures deserved more than just their own album in my iphoto. I dropped them onto my zip drive and set off on a mission - I was going to get prints made! My first stop (Walmart) was quite unsuccessful -- seeing as every machine was mysteriously "down" and the photo lady pointed me to a nearby Rite Aid. What a hassle this was turning out to be! 10 whole minute of driving!? Were these prints really worth it?? Rite Aid reassured me and lifted my spirits by having an incredibly easy to use machine and good prices too! I got 50 prints for about $5. Feeling quite satisfied with myself I immediately went home, sorted my picture chronologically, and inserted them into my adorable album!

Photo by Liza Hettherington (my best friend!)

Talk about being worth a few minutes and a few bucks! I absolutely LOVE my new album with my REAL prints in it! I look at it constantly and show it off to everyone i possibly can. The ooo's and awww's are so rewarding :-)

Don't let your pictures die in a virtual casket. Bring them to life - have prints made - whether they're 4x6's from your local Kodak machine or 24x36 metallic display prints that adorn your wall as a work of art. It's worth it...try it...you'll see ;-)
~Brittany

balance + carla

2008-09-25T14:32:00.009-04:00

Collaborating with another artist is always cool. What you get is twice as good as having just one artist working for you. We love Carla at carla david design. Her graphic designs are clean, stylish and elegant, and she really "gets it" when it comes to showing off photographs as a design element. Carla does custom couture invitations & announcements, as well as corporate designs. We've been a fan of her work since the moment we first met her at a wedding show. She really is a couture designer and her work truly reflects the couple whose invites she creates.

Over time, brides & grooms have frequently asked us to "make something" with their engagement pictures, some kind of save-the-date. Okay... we can do that. Now.

Carla has created a custom line for balance photography. It includes a very cool guest book as well as three different save-the-date options. Each item is ordered thru balance to showcase your engagement photos and is personally customized and handcrafted by Carla. Incredible.

The carla david design Guestbook is printed on heavy card stock and features a full bleed photo on the back of each signing page. The book is bound in color-coordinated silk ribbon and for ease of signing, the pages come apart. Perfect to display pictures and guest comments at your wedding!

The carla david design Save-the-Date photo collection...

The first option Carla created to show off your engagement pictures is a strip magnet with three photos. It is inspired by classic "photo booth" pictures and has a sweet, lighthearted and fun vibe. The magnet is attached to color-coordinated card stock and comes with matching lined envelopes for mailing.

To announce a more formal wedding celebration, Carla created a second magnet option. It showcases one large engagement portrait and the colors on the envelope liner and on the magnet frame are sampled directly from the background of your photo. Also features an elegant floral edging and rounded corners. Perfect for a more traditional soiree or ballroom affair.

Carla's final offering to show off your engagement pictures in a Save-the-Date announcement is a beautiful custom 3-panel card. Pictures are printed on each panel as well as on a custom sticker seal. An elegant introduction to your guests for your special day.

We are proud to be working with Carla to bring you these beautiful options for your engagement photos. Stop by and see them in person. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

Thanks Carla! We can't wait to see what beautiful custom creations you make from our pictures next!!
~ Rissa

Scope it Out

2008-09-25T13:02:00.004-04:00

Recently the Perfect Wedding Guide had a luncheon for wedding vendors at the new Hilton in Baltimore. It's always fun for us to attend these events because we get to catch up with friends in the biz and the publisher, Karen Buck, gives a talk on different aspects of the wedding industry each time.

At these luncheons, Karen invites different vendors to show off their products & services. This time Wessel's did the centerpieces, Gala Cloths did the linens and Carla David did all the stationary. They all worked well with the modern look of the Hilton and really came together like clockwork to put together a gorgeous event.

So, anyhow ~ the favors on the table were photo scopes, which is what I found so exciting that I am still thinking about them a week later!!!

Years ago ~ like about 30 years ago, yikes ~ I remember going on a family vacation to Ocean City, MD and my folks getting a photo session done of me and my big brother on the beach. My parents bought various prints, which were long since replaced on the walls by other, more recent portraits. But the photo scopes they bought from the session have lasted all these years. I still have mine. My grandmother still has hers -- it lives in the china cabinet with her good crystal and dishes.

But mine sits out at my workstation in the studio. It reminds me of everything good about growing up, about being a kid playing on the beach, about my family then ~ three decades ago. I can still see myself as a little girl, posing on the sand in my favorite Snoopy bathing suit. It was very chic, for a toddler. It had Snoopy as "Joe Cool" and he was holding a surf board. Every time I see the scope, I remember how cool I felt in that swim suit (tho in reality the bum of my suit was full of sand), how exciting the trips to the beach always were ~ the exhilaration & simplicity of being that age. It also reminds me of all the silly stuff that went on in my family that we laugh about now. Like my brother getting sunburned only on the bottoms of his feet. Like when I accidentally locked myself in the hotel bathroom and my dad had to climb in through the window to get me out (toddlers and door locks aren't a good combo). Like when we would all combine our skeeball tickets to get a great big prize on the boardwalk, but fight about which prize to get. And of course, I can still taste the fresh salt water taffy. The orange flavor is still my favorite.

My Ocean City photo scope (left/front) and newer sample model from My-Scopes (right).

I haven't been to Ocean City in probably 20 years. My family switched to Rehoboth in Delaware somewhere along the line, which is now a favorite place for Nathaniel, Lochrima & I as well. I have no clue where the other photos my parents bought on the beach photo shoot are. But I still have and love the photo scope from our vacay on the beach. The picture itself has yellowed a little, but considering how many years old it is, I have to say, it still looks good.

(You know, until the Perfect Wedding Guide luncheon, I didn't know they were called "photo scopes" -- I usually described mine as "the keychain thingie from the beach that has a tube with a photo in the end and you hold it up to the light.")

Anyhow, you can get your own photo scopes now!! I am so excited to have found this and be able to share it!

We don't sell them, but the company from the luncheon is called My-Scopes and a girl named Melissa Carpenter handles them in the Maryland area. You can email her at melissa.carpenter@my-scopes.com or visit her website. Her scopes come in ten different colors, can have personalized imprinting and start at only $7.99 for one. The more you buy, the cheaper they get: 5 photo scopes are $19.95 and have free shipping. Which is so cool. I know I will get some for us and for gifts as well. You can do so many cute things with these: imagine your save-the-date for a wedding, baby or kids' pictures, party favors, thank-you presents or fun personalized ones as gift tags for the holidays. To make a scope, you go to her site and upload your photos and click, click, click you're done.

Though they are a little kitschy, a little touristy and slightly silly, I'm a huge fan of photo scopes. My experience with them has been great so far. Thirty years and counting.
~ Rissa

Balance Photo

The ABCs

Judgement Day

Be Selfish about it...

Welcome to the Cafe...

Hit Me Baby One More Time -

We love Gossip

Get Down on It

Our Eco Chic Wedding Showcase

Winning Ways

For Free, Babe!

New year, new beginnings, new ... wedding shows

Gorgeous Green

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

May Eternal

Getting some Ink

We were heading down the road...

Charming

Saving the Earth=Business as Usual

Celebrate Earth Day -Be Stylish

Left Stronger

Cocktails for Earth Day. Right On.

April Green DrinksOur Second Annual Green Drinks for the Chesapeake Bay

Thursday, April 22, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Tastes Great

Doing Double Time

Everyone Loves Wedding Cake

Up in the Air

Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase

Happy Sweet Valentine's Day

An evening of Wine, Women and Song

We still get around...

Midnight in the Garden of Rissa & Nathaniel

Need a Wedding Photographer?

Notes from one of our Beauties...

Tasty Catonsville

Romance at The Colony

Dropping Our Drawers

Vera Beautiful

Green-er

Making Dreams Come True

Spring Wedding Shows

MIA

Why I love the USA

Eat Out & Support a Worthy Cause

Finding the Beginning

My Precious

Interrogation

Destinations/Travel Weddings

Radio City Baltimore

Feel the Burn

Hit the ground running

We're Everywhere!

Have a Small Christmas

My employees, the worms

Hilarious-ness

We're green with pride

Preservation

Reduction

Local Production

Cruelty-Free

Recycling Christmas

The Pretty Filter

Wine made with Greyhounds

the Wine Jester

December Deals

Thanksgiving, from all of us

Pumpkin Pie (or Why I Married My Husband)

Italian Food and Supermodels

Guests at the Party? Us?

3-2-1 Liftoff

Wedding Nightmares/Dreams 2

Shady Photographers

Make Peace with Your Butt

A New Partner

One delicious deal

Pretty in Pink

Cocoa and Moving Boxes

A Difficult Good-Bye

Happy 4th Year, Baby ~

April Green Drinks
Our Second Annual Green Drinks for the Chesapeake Bay