Allison Newcomer Photography »

I just arrived home from a week spent visiting family in NJ and, oh yeah, attending Justin & Mary’s Walk Through a Wedding! For those who haven’t heard of them, they are wedding photographers who are also educators in the industry. I started following their blog about four months ago, and when I saw the latest WTAW come along I jumped at the chance to learn from the best.

The first day went through their step-by-step process of how they handle the wedding day, from arriving at the getting-ready location all the way through to the reception, including the lighting setup and camera settings they use. We started out in their home, moved to a church, and ended out the the day on a private island! It was a long day—our particular day started at 9AM and went until after 11PM. The great news is that we got to sleep in the next morning!

The details around their place were just gorgeous. They also put out some accessories so we could try out shooting techniques and lighting angles we had just learned about:




These next photos were shot on the island (check out this photo from J&M’s assistant extraordinaire Julia to see the unbelievable road over) where we spent more time learning and shooting:

As the sun faded, we headed inside for more learning and got to try their simple and oh-so-effective one-light setup for ourselves:

The second day was all about the business side of things, including everything from how they process images and how their branding influences their choices, to how they hold client meetings and the red flags they look for. Mary in particular was SO incredible on this day! She basically put their whole business out there—including the mistakes they made—in an organized and thoughtful way, and she patiently answered a ton of questions. I’m pretty sure I saw her reach down to scoop up her brain after the last hour and settle it back in place just in time for the post-workshop wine party!

I was moved, my thoughts were stretched and challenged, and I know that what I learned in Connecticut will shape my business for a long time to come. I feel a thousand times more confident about moving forward and offering wedding photography to couples. If you’re considering a workshop, this is one that is worth every single cent. I’m so pleased I attended, and I’m glad for the new connections I have with a lovely, fun, and inspiring group of photographers! Justin and Mary, thank you for everything!

After far too much time spent physically and mentally exhausted in front of Photoshop, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not a graphic artist. I have a sense of what looks good, but it’s not what I want to do and fuss with constantly. So I invested in a cohesive brand identity, all decked out in my favorite mustard yellow. The website change-over wasn’t without its blips, which included losing the handful of old blog entries from before. I’m considering it a fresh start though, with a focus particularly on couples: engagements/weddings, bridals, day-after sessions, first-year sessions, and beyond.

Amid the changes, my new business cards arrived in the mail yesterday.  I was so excited to see the package from Moo. I ordered the recycled/matte cards and I am officially in love. They are sturdy and thick, and the printing is spot-on. I know I’ll be ordering from them again. I can’t help but peek at them every so often. I’m easily thrilled and entertained sometimes. But it’s the little things, right?