Blog
Summer Season is Closing Fast
Wow, it’s been a whirlwind summer so far at Tim Brya Photography. I admit I am not the best blogger in the world, but thought an update every few months would be fun. Sooo, where do I start?
This year we have been blessed with a new addition to the team. Dana Major joined the team as an associate photographer this spring. As a benifit to thos who signed up for weddings this year, they were all treated to two photographers at their weddings. Ths was also an experiment to see what the outcome would net and we have been pleasantly surprised. During the ceremony and reception there is so much to capture and from two perspectives has brought a new offering from us, the double photographer wedding package. This set up allows for wide angle work from the back of the church and close ups during the ceremony too. We can post a woman witht the girls and a man with the guys, before the wedding for some great candids. At the reception there is twice the coverage for better candids, different angels of all the activities, and we hope all for a fairly reasonable price. The couples who were shot by us both were The Sloan Hines Wedding, The Danforth Matesik Wedding, The Zettervall Betteridge Wedding and this weekend, The Ginter Brown Wedding.
We have also been on location for some portrait settings and engagement sets as well. The samples are now being loaded to FaceBook Link found on the Home page. Its time to book the fall sets now, if you want to have a spot. Call today to discuss Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Kids, Cars, Bikes or even Pets, we are ready to go. Just think of a fun location, a theme, wardrobe selections, and lets go on an adventure. We like to keep the portraits light hearted, fun and spontaneous. Just link up to our FaceBook Page and look forward to new sample updates as they come available.
Tim Brya Photography also sells Prints for your home decoration. I have been adding to each selection as I can. The are Galleries from My Travels, Local Sunsets and Midwest Scenery, Flowers Fungus n Bugs, and Local Critters. Take a look and order a print or two. the landscapes are formatted for larger prints and the flowers fungus, bugs, and critters can be purchased in smaller sizes for collages, groupings, etc. Enjoy !
Looking ahead into 2010
I am excited to say, ” It’s going to be a great year, here at Tim Brya Photography”. I have to first admit though, I am not the best blogger in the business. I will do my best to let you all know whats new, and there are a couple exciting announcements. First, I want to welcome and thank everyone who has reserved their weddings early. Second I want to welcome Dana Major as an associate photographer to the team. And third, I have opened a SmugMug account to not only sell prints for the clients but to also highlight some of my favorites artistic shots for sale.
As the year progresses I will introduce each client with some samples of their shoots as I have done throughout the years. Earlier this year we have already shot 3 engagement sets and have a wedding this Saturday to highlight. The first couple was Stephanie and Clifford, photographed at Walnut Point south of Newman, Janruary of this year. It was a beautiful day, cold and snowy, buit the shoot was fun and lighthearted. As a photographer I was caught between the couple and the scenery, there was ice on the lake and some clear spots where the ducks and geese were coming and going by the thousands. I told Stephanie if we went and there was snow on the ground, there would have to be snow angels.
Just a couple weeks later Lindie and Tyler were also interested in winter scenery for their engagement set. We adventured over to Allerton Park, just West of Monticello for a fun filled day. The snow was wet and it was actually warm for Janruary, so I didn’t subject them to snow angels, but between the two of them, we came up with some really fun ideas for poses and settings.
The third engagement set is also our first Wedding this weekend. Dana Major, our newest photographer, has taken the lead on this job. Sara and Josh met her at Lake of the woods a few weeks ago and setteled in for a day of great photos. Dana has a great eye and will add to our ability to open more dates and bring another layer of artistic insight. We will also be able to offer a two photographer package which gets more angles and attention to more details often missed with only one set of eyes. Sara and Josh’s wedding is this Saturday in Philo, so we will be posting a complete gallery of their engagement and wedding next week.
Stay tuned as we create new larger galleries aimed not only for sale of prints, but to review our work. Pleas give us a call with any questions, curiosities and inquiries as to how we can help create your vision. We will certainly try to help make any Wedding, Portrait Setting, Senior Pictures, or whatever you may have in mind, artistic and fun.
Thanks,
Tim and Dana
Centennial Senior, Mechell
Mechell is the daughter of one of my closest friends, Sanna. One of the fun parts of shooting Mechell’s pictures is, once in a while I was taken aback, by seeing her mother in the lens. Sanna and I have been friends since, we’ll just say, a few years back, when she and I were the same age as Mechell. All it took was a certain smile or glance and there she was, my friend Sanna. Each Senior Picture Package includes 2-hours on location, so we headed out to Allerton Park for the afternoon and Mechell took right to the camera. With Senior Pictures I love to spend time with each subject to not only find numerous poses, but to find that sense of ease, where the true personality starts to shine.
Mechell came prepared with a wardrobe change and Mom had a couple ideas to share too. This really helps in the end as all the expectations were discussed, and I believe, met. Sanna wanted a certain look, Mechell walking away from the camera, her little girl growing up, and Allerton has some nice country lanes to work with. We worked at it for a couple hours and came up with many great looks and feelings in her pictures. This is my goal with any Senior Picture, take that time needed, get comfortable, have fun, and leave each client with more than just one pose to choose from. Here are a couple more samples of Mechell.
The summer shoots are a wrap…
I cant believe how fast this summer has gone. I feel a little slow on catching up on my blog here so I’ll let the samples do the talking. In early July I was honored to shoot an evening wedding for Cliff and Becky at the Illini Union. Later in the month I met with Corey and Cher for their Engagement set at Walnut Point near Newman. And just this past weekend shot the first Senior Pictures for a very pretty young lady named Alyssa.
Cliff and Becky’s Wedding was simple and elegant set in the rear sittiung area of the Union. They ceremony was performed in the center bay window and as the ceremony ended the reception hall was a few steps away into on of the main banquet halls. We had met at the union for their engagement shots a few weeks earlier and had a good idea of spots to shoot this day too. After some candid’s in the dressing room it was time for the groupings, Girls first then the boys and in for the Ceremony. After the cermony we shot the whole wedding party and then the Bride and Groom. It was getting dark fast and pulled what we could from the remaining light. The reception followed with toast’s, dinner, cake cutting, first dances and a dollar dance. The DJ, Craig from CG Productions kept a great rythm to the party and I would recccommend him to anyone looking for a quality DJ. Thanks again CLiff and Becky for the honor to be a part of your big day.
Corey and Cher are getting married in a few weeks. They suggested Walnut Point for their Engagement pictures and I was curious, I hd never been there and realizing how close it is, was kind of disapointed. The park is beautiful and there are many great little spots that could be used ofr future photography, not to mention the camping, boating, and just natural beauty of the area. Coprey and Cher are having a cowboy-cowgirl theme and at first I was a little nervous, but they fit the part well. We shot some fun poses first in nicer clothes for the Grands, then it was time for fun. COrey had his best get-er-done shirt and they both had their Stetsons. We tried some different ideas from sitting on a boat dock. feet in the water to another cute fishin’ dock. After this fun day with them I am looking forward to the big day in a couple weeks.
Alyssa was a great model for the day. She came prepared for her Senior Pictures with some different outfits to try and a few ideas of what she wanted. Her mom was a big help too as she had some great sugestions too which leads to less dissapointment in the end. We met at the Illini Arboretum in the morning to avoid the late afternoon harsh light. I love the Arboretum as a backdropas as it can change from seas0on to season. The Japan House is right there too which gives a photographer many settings to choose from. We ended up with over 200 pictures with a dozen different settings tio choose from all within about 2-hours. Here are some samples to check out.
Well it’s not over yet. the fall is here and it’s a busy one. We still have a couple weddings, a couple’s portrait for the grand kids, and couple more Senior Pictures to fit in before my season ends. If you are still interested in Senior Pictures call now to resere a space. I am still taking reservations for next years wedding schedule. This fills up fast, usually be the end of the year so give me a call at 217-766-9163 to discuss any future plans.
Blog at ya later,
Tim
Momma 2’s Wedding – Gail and Lee
One of my good friends mothers Gail asked if I would photograph her wedding, which was a few weeks ago. At first I said no, as I would have rather just been a guest, and partied with her son and some friends that I knew would be there. Instead, I was convinced and honored to play an important roll and shoot her wedding as she wanted. I was also invited to the bachelor party which included steaks and drinks, a pimped out bachelor, and some other activities which will, lets just say, “Stay in Vegas”. Gail is like a Second Mom to me and I have called her Momma-2 since her son Steve and I became friends some 20-years ago. “Wow, can you believe it’s been that long Steve”?
The wedding and reception were held at the Hawthorn Suites in Champaign. They used a room on the walkway between the two buildings for the ceremony and then a small banquet room for the reception. Both were close quarters and may have added to the intimacy of the celebration. The kids added their own special touches with a solo song from Steve, decorations from Susan, and a Poem from Lee’s Daughter. After th Big Kiss and introduction it was off for pictures at West Side Park.
The reception was nice. Everyone settled in with some cocktails and munchies as we shot the pictures. After the wedding party arrival, we were treated with a sit down dinner, a toast from the groom, and a Cup cake tower. To get the crowd in the dancing spirit, Steve belted out a couple blues hits, and the party was on. DJ Mystro – Henry Luckett, pulled out the old school dance toons and kept the party rolling. Here are some samples from the wedding.
Gail and Lee, I am glad you enjoyed your pictures. I am proud to have been the photographer at your wedding and enjoyed the party as much as if I wasn’t working. Congrats and good luck on your new journey together as Mr. and Mrs. Barry.
