Christmas movie pick..

Here's our holiday movie reccomendation, National Treasure, book of secrets. If you saw the first one, you are probably already planning to go to this one too. I came away from this one thinking it as good, if not better than the first one. It has everything you want, great cast, superior art direction, car chases, and non stop action. This is a great family film, I took my 12 year old daughter last night and she loved it. There is no bad language, that usually makes me cringe at movies, nothing objectionable at all. This is a winner, go see it you will have a great time.

Santa is in town!

Tonight I had the pleasure of photographing the big man himself, Santa Claus, with a few dozen wonderful kids. The weather outside was crisp hot chocolate weather, the town of Bedford puts on a great holiday event in centertown for Christmas. There were horse drawn carriages, apple cider and cocoa stands, plus Santa in a huge utility shed that looked more like Mount Vernon than a storage building. The folks in charge put a lot of work into fixing up the interior to look like Santa's parlor complete with carpet and a fireplace. We will be going back tomorrow, and again next weekend. Hope to see you there!!

Something twisted for Christmas fun..

My daughter, Sara showed me this thing last night, and I have not been able to stop thinking about it.

Congratulations Jayme & Cindy!!!

We shot Jayme & Cindy's wedding at the Inn at Trivium last Saturday, what a wonderful place for a special, intimate family wedding in late November! This was a small affair as weddings go around here, only 50-60 close friends and family,but they know how to have a good time! The bride and groom were awesome, easy people to photograph, and their families were so much fun too. Southern Soundz Entertainmentprovided the party music and fun, with Longwood Florist providing some spectacular centerpieces and boquets! ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW!

Check this out..

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, Check out this couple's first dance!

Christmas in November!

Christmas came early here this week, I got a call from Don at Lynchburg Camera Shop this morning letting me know that the D300 that I have been waiting for for months had finally arrived! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning! This camera rocks! I have not put it to the test yet, but we have a wedding this week end and we will find out what she's made of. The display on the back is the first big noticeable difference, it's a whopping 3" display that makes chimping a pleasure. Then all the geeky stuff like the new 12.3-megapixel DX-Format CMOS Sensor, Continuous shooting up to 6 frames per second, 51-point autofocus with 3D Focus Tracking, plus an ISO equivalent to 6400 to make those church shots sing just to start. I will post up some examples soon to show you the difference. I am a happy ( and Thankful) man. God has blessed my business so much this year, I am nearly speechless. I will be off to church tonight to celebrate thanksgiving, by giving thanks to Him from who all blessings flow!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Billy & Mary Beth's E Session..

We went on a beautiful Fall hike with Billy & Mary Beth last Saturday for their engagement photos. Billy knew a great location up on the mountain behind the home of one of their family's friends where there was the ruin of an old home, nothing is left but the fire place. There were some other old abandoned homes there as well that made great backgrounds.
Thank you guys, we had a great time out hiking around, we really should do more of that!
ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW!

Happy Veterans Day.

Being Veteran's Day, I took a quick trip out to the The National D Day Memorial to take in the events that are always offered on this day.
Living here in Southwestern Virginia, there are so many things that we see regularly, that we take for granted, that people travel from all over the world to enjoy. The Blue Ridge Parkway, Monticello, Poplar Forest, Natural Bridge, Bedford is proud to be the site of the The National D Day Memorial.
Like eleven other Virginia communities, Bedford provided a company of soldiers (Company A) to the 29th Infantry Division when the National Guard's 116th Infantry Regiment was activated on 3 February 1941. Proportionally this community suffered the nation's severest D-Day losses. Recognizing Bedford as emblematic of all communities, large and small, whose citizen-soldiers served on D-Day, Congress warranted the establishment of the National D-Day Memorial here.
It's truly moving to see the progress that has been made at the memorial over the last few years. It is still staffed by volunteers, some are D Day veterans. If you are ever out this way, I encourage you to stop in and say thanks to a vet.

Congrats, Tanis & Nikky!

We were at the wedding of Tanis & Nikky this past weekend. We really enjoyed working with you guys and getting to meet your families. This was the first time we got to work in the Parlor, where the reception was held. The Parlor is an upscale Tonsorial Studio (Barbershop) where you can get really spoiled with traditional shaves, shoe shines etc. plus there is a full spa downstairs for the ladies, and a beautiful ballroom on the third floor for your event. If you want a swanky pad for your next big party, give Chopper Wilson and the guys a call!
Thanks again to Tanis, Nikky and your families for trusting us with your wedding. We had a blast! ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW!

Jon Shain Tour Update..

My good buddy Jon Shain has alerted me to his upcoming touring schedule. If you love honest artfully crafted singer songwriters, Jon should not be missed! I have been a fan since the old days with Flyin' Mice and he has really grown as an artist and I would love to try to make one of these dates! If you can, check him out!
Press Release:

Hi everyone,
It is almost time for the 7th annual Pre-Turkey Day Jam! David Sardinha (of Six String Café) and I are presenting the show again at The Cats Cradle this year, as always, the night before Thanksgiving. This year we kick it off with a songwriters-in-the-round set – I’ll be joined by the great Kenny Roby (of Mercy Filter and Six String Drag) as well as the bluesy Jule Brown and folk troubadour Michael Holland (both formerly of Jennanykind). Next up will be a set by Big Medicine – ace old-time string band, followed by Edsel 500 – FJ Ventre and Dave Quick’s smokin’ rock-a-billy band. This should be a fun night – all proceeds to benefit the Helping Hand Mission of Raleigh. We hope you can join us.

Other news: Upcoming in January – I’ll be on tour into the northeast including several duo shows with my friend Pat Wictor – a talented-as-hell slide player and songwriter from Brooklyn, NY. We’ll be playing in Philadelphia, NYC, and Saratoga Springs together. Also hitting the Boston area for a few days as well…Look for more guitar workshops at High Strung Guitars in 2008; the one back in September was a success… keep your eyes out for an article in a new glossy magazine out of Greensboro – Channel Red – it should be out at the end of the year… also there will be a feature on my music in Duke’s alumni magazine in the Jan. issue…

In the national press dept: There are nice reviews of “Army Jacket Winter” in this month’s Relix magazine and in this month’s issue of Sing Out! magazine.

In the side project dept: I have started to play electric bass for a new band here in the Triangle – Meltzer-Hart, led by my buddies Tom Meltzer (of 5 Chinese Brothers fame) and Jeff Hart (of The Ruins, The Hanks, and Brown Mountain Lights). The music is upbeat rock/pop – think British invasion meets Tom Petty. We debut in Durham on the first of December.

I really enjoy playing house concerts and parties – so please don’t hesitate to email me if you are interested in having me perform at your home!

For those of you looking for holiday gifts for your friends and relatives, please consider turning them on to some new music. My new disc is on sale, discounted by 30% at www.cdbaby.com if you buy more than one at a time. The discs are truly “compact”, too, fitting in most major holiday stockings…

Please request “Army Jacket Winter” on your local non-commercial radio stations - every bit of publicity, airplay, etc. helps!

More info on the following shows as well as CD ordering info, downloads, and guitar TABs available at www.jonshain.com and at www.myspace.com/jonshain

Local Dates

11/21/07 Pre-Turkey Day Jam benefit for Helping Hand Mission, Cats Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC 8pm
Jon with Kenny Roby, Michael Holland, Jule Brown, Edsel 500, and Big Medicine

12/1/07 Meltzer-Hart debuts at the Broad Street Café, Durham, NC 8pm
with Jeff Hart and the Damage Done

12/9/07 Page-Walker Arts and History Center, Cary, NC 4pm show
The last show of their fall music series in this historic restored hotel in old downtown Cary.

12/14/07 The Cave, Carrboro, NC 7:30pm
Jon with Mark Simonsen (Flyin’ Mice reunion of sorts)

Northeast Tour:
1/11/08 House Concert, Philadelphia, PA duo with Pat Wictor
1/12/08 Mansfield Music and Arts Society benefit, Mansfield, MA
1/13/08 Mansfield Music and Arts Society benefit, Mansfield, MA with opener Danielle Miraglia
1/15/08 Live at Noon, WUMB, Boston, MA
1/16/08 Main Streets Market and Cafe, Concord, MA 1/17/08 *** 2 sets*** The Living Room, NY, NY duo with Pat Wictor
1/18/08 Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY duo with Pat Wictor with opener Larry Zarella
1/19/08 Loring-Greenough House, Jamaica Plain, MA with opener Robin O'Herin

Thanks everyone!
Jon



Jon Shain "Song For Jojo" from CTD3 and Vimeo.

Jayme & Cindy

I spent another gorgeous fall afternoon out with Jayme & Cindy shooting their e session last Friday on the trail by Percival's Island in Lynchburg. We took a quick walk down the trail and headed across the railroad tracks for some urban backgrounds too. Thanks guys! I had a great time, and lunch was awesome too! Hope you like them! ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW!

Rock star Megan!

I had a blast working with Megan, the daughter of one of my dearest friends, Craig Hesson, who came down for the Explore Park sendoff camp out last Saturday. We took to the streets and back alleys of downtown Roanoke for a couple of hours seeing the sights and shooting some awesome portraits of this incredible young lady who nearly blinded us with her million watt smile!
Thanks so much Megan for being such a good sport with me and your dad. Hope you like the shots! ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW!

End of an Era..

I began volunteering at Virginia's Explore Park in the eighteenth century area over 10 years ago. What was a passing interest, became an expensive hobby. That became a slight obsession that grew and matured into a real enthusiasm and passion for the history of colonial America and specifically the role this area played in history. The Park is closing for now, and I have created some of my fondest memories there, and forged my strongest friendships. I hope that there will be a future for our past at a re invented and new Explore Park soon, I look forward to coming back. Huzzah!

Congratulations Eric & Kelly!

We were called just a few weeks before the wedding date for Kelly & Eric, they came to the Inn at Trivium for help saving their wedding plans after they had fallen through at another venue. We were more than happy to help. We only met on the rehearsal night, but Kelly & her parents were great, considering the stress they must have been under, and I must say how impressive the staff at the Trivium was during this. There was a second event going on at the same time on both the rehearsal & wedding nights. Both events went off flawlessly.
Anyway here are a few from the early edit of the wedding.
ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW!