Matt and Laura Talk

This is the first in a new series of blog posts under the category “In their own words.” I got this idea from colleague Marc Climie. He's another wedding photographer with the "Climie" name based in Atlanta (to my knowledge we are not related). We have the client pick their favorite image of the wedding day and expand on why they love it so much, what makes it their favorite, etc. If you’re a client whose wedding we’ve finished and you’d like to participate, please email me for details. We would love to include you in this!

Matt and Laura picked this image. Here is what they said:

Our favorite picture was taken in front of the limo at the church when I am wearing Matt's hat and we are kissing each other. I really enjoy this picture because it shows that Matt and I love to goof around and that we love each other. It's Matt's favorite because he is always saying he thinks I look good in a hat and what better than a cubs hat?! Thank you Russ for finding this great photo opportunity. It is sure to be a fond memory in our family for years to come.
~Laura Abid

Thanks Matt and Laura for being a part of this!

Eric + Kesha @ Rockford Reformed

Eric and Kesha were married on a Friday evening on August 1, 2008 in Rockford, MI. The day was filled with errands and tying up loose ends, but in the end Eric and Kesha did tie the knot! The details were taken care of by wonderfully caring parents and friends that surrounded them on their wedding day. The ceremony included all the nieces and nephews (so be sure to look for them) and the reception consisted of a dessert buffet. From their first dance to Kesha's Dad's heartfelt toast, their day went off just as they had planned! Since their wedding day, they have both moved to California where Eric is a professor and has been for some time.

Thanks for such an amazing day and for choosing me to be a part of it!

Team Hoyt Together

A while back a I came across this video about Dick Hoyt and his son Rick. Take a moment and watch this 4 minute video it speaks for itself.

Together we can accomplish anything. What would you like to accomplish?

59 minutes, 48 seconds...

What a way to spend a Friday afternoon - on the phone with the IRS! I guess the system our government set up doesn't like it when business owners are efficient and place 3 checks in one envelope! I mailed my 2007 income taxes, my 2007 self-employment taxes and my first 2008 estimated payment in the same envelope with three different envelopes inside of it (they were all going to the same place anyway!) and somehow that messed up our 2008 Stimulus Payment. So for those of you whose money from the 2008 stimulus package has come and gone, we haven't even gotten our check yet! So to clear that up it took a 59 minute, 48 second phone call. Talk about efficient! (yeah right).

Think about what I could've done with that hour:

• Cooked and eaten a meal with my wife
• Edited photographs - and gotten paid!
• Spent time with my parents
• Gone for a walk
• Enjoyed the nice, warm Michigan summer

But no, I had to sit in my office dealing with the IRS...the joys of being a small business owner.

-Russ

PS - anyone else feel like we should scrap the entire system and start all over again...?? We don't have TV anymore, so I've been spared the political hype thus far, but it's all anyone ever talks about anymore - anyone else sick of it?

Jonathan + Rachel @ HBA of Grand Rapids

Jonathan and Rachel were married on July 26, 2008 at Vos Chapel at Kyper College in Grand Rapids. All the details were amazing, from the flowers to the dresses to the reception details. Flowers were put together by Natalie at Stems Event Design - a division of Mulick Floral. Just look at the flowers - they are great! Rachel and Jonathan both work for McDonald's Corporate in the Chicago area and are big into photo and video production. We had a blast taking photos outside Kyper College before and visiting a little known location between the ceremony and reception (if you'd like to know where we went, you'll have to email me here!) The reception was a HBA of Grand Rapids and Joey Davenport of Complete Music supplied the entertainment. Make sure you ask for Joey @ Complete Music - what a guy! What a great day and night - thanks for such an amazing day and for picking me to capture your special day!

Entrepre * Crazy

Earlier this week I was able to meet Sue LaBelle, owner of Big Apple Bagels in Grand Rapids. She and her husband own two locations in Grand Rapids - Lake Michigan Dr and Plainfield Ave. She made a great comment about people who just "naturally" start their own business. She mentioned that her husband and son are out in California looking at bringing back another franchise to the Grand Rapids area. She called their family "Entrepre-Crazy"! I love people like that.

While there, I was able to suggest a couple great books that have helped me with my business over the past few years. The first one is "The Cashflow Quadrant" by Robert Kiyosaki and the second one was "The E-Myth" by Micheal Gerber. These two authors have really challenged my thinking over the past few years. Like Kiyosaki writing the tough question - "So you think your house is an 'ASSET'? -- What's the largest check you write on a monthly basis? Is it your mortgage? How then is your house an 'ASSET' when it takes money AWAY from you?" -- Ouch! Or when Gerber writes "If you had 5,000 stores that were just like yours, would you be happy?" - Ouch!

These two guys are must reads for any business owner - so be sure to pick them up today!

Cory + Sandi @ Leelanau

Cory and Sandi were married in the Leelanau Peninsula on July 19, 2008. Tiberius Images Associate photographer Theresa Milanowski made her way up to the Traverse City area to capture an amazing day of photographs. The ceremony itself was held in Cedar, MI and was right next door to some amazing locations including the Lake Michigan waterfront. The reception was held at Timberlee Hills and they had a great time in between on the party bus.

Thanks for such an amazing day and for picking us to capture your special day!