What does a Tampa portrait photographer offer?

Every once in a while I meet that rare individual who simply cannot understand why anyone would pay a portrait photographer's price when they can go down to the mall and get 200 prints for a dollar (at least that's the way it seems). I've given up on trying to rationalize with these people because they tend to think of photography as simply a recording of someones image. These are the same people who couldn't understand what all the fuss was about with those new-fangled DVD thingys...

Besides the obvious advantage of superior talent, quality, attention and all around charm and good-looks (well, some of those are true) that I offer over the retail operations, you also get significant choices after the session. With the digital age upon us, it's no longer enough to be able to just take a good picture. You need to be able to manipulate it after-the-fact.

Yesterday, I had a portrait session with the lovely and charming Marissa. She was just wonderful the whole time and a natural in front of the camera. Here are a few shots from her session with different effects:

I call this the Colorblast Effect. It's deeply saturated with color and very vibrant.

Good old fashioned black and white. Some people think that converting a picture to black and white means simply clicking a button in Photoshop (or any other photo program). While that will get you a black and white image, it won't get you very good one. This particular shot has four different adjustments on it to make it stand out.

This effect is very popular with scrapbookers (my wife is a big scrapbooker). It's actually based on an old Japanese camera that never quite got the color saturation right. It also has some vignetting, which is the darkness you see around the edges.

Finally, there's good old fashioned standard (with a little vignette).

A good portrait photographer will be able to look at your images and recommend which direction to go when choosing custom effects.

Booray perry is a portrait photographer in Tampa Bay

Tampa portrait photographers ... artists?

Yesterday I had a portrait session with Julie and her family. They called because it was a rare opportunity to get four generations of women in one picture. The session went well and everyone was pleased with the portraits.

Except me.

When you book a session with a portrait photographer (or a children's photographer, baby photographer, wedding photographer, etc...) you should be photographed by someone who considers themselves (on some level) an artist. I remember talking to my Dad one day about how people perceive photographers and he said, "The U.S. Government considers it "art," so it's "art." (Dad sometimes has a very easy answer to things..) Sometimes I feel a little self-conscious calling myself an "artist" but the fact is that taking a standard portrait involves very little artistic vision at all. It's mostly just technical knowledge about lighting and posing. It's what I do after I take the portrait that's art.

So, yesterday after we were finished with the standard portrait poses, I asked the four women if they would indulge me for a few minutes, "I want to take a picture of your hands."

This picture is, to me, much more interesting than a portrait. Four generations of women, each holding the arm of her daughter until eventually the circle is complete with the 14-year-old reaching back in time to hold on to her 98-year-old great-grandmother. I shot several different setups, some with jewelry and some without but I think the one with the jewelry is my favorite. Not only can you see the ages in their hands but the jewelry tells a story as well. The great-grandmother and grandmother wearing gold chains as has been the custom with Latino women for centuries, the mom a little more modern with her stylish watch and finally the daughter with her string friendship bracelets.

I also like this one because the bright friendship bracelets stand out. The daughter's hand is front and center, the future of the family, but you see where she comes from.... the strong women who have come before her to make her who she is today.

I don't know if I'm an artist or not but, sometimes, I think I take good pictures. :)

Booray Perry is a portrait and family photographer in Tampa Bay.

Tampa children's photographer seeks giant pencil

Bobbi and I were talking about props today. We don't have a lot of props, mostly small things like hats and toys. You would be surprised at the stuff you can buy. We have prop catalogs that will break your foot if you drop them.

We've all seen these pictures. The ones where the little boy is sitting in front of a fake pond on a fake dock with a fake bush and a fake tree and fake sky. When done wrong, these photographs are hideous... really cheesy and fake. However, when done right they can be wonderful. There is at least one children's photographer that I know of right here in Tampa that just does incredible work. Really beautiful with fantastic lighting.

So why don't I do it? Well, there's several reasons (and I won't lie, "storage" is one of them). But the main reason is that I think I would feel constricted by that sort of children's photography. I mean, once you go to all the trouble of setting up this elaborate scene, wouldn't you feel like you needed to photograph the entire scene? I work without a tripod, I move around a lot, I zoom in and out. I'm not sure that style would work well with an elaborate set up. Also, I think I would rather just go out to an actual pond and photograph.

Let me just say once again that there are some children's photographers right here in Tampa Bay that do incredible work with elaborate set staging. If by chance one of them were to come across this post I would hate for them to think that I was being critical of their work. There's nothing more idiotic than a photographer who thinks that the way he works is the only way to work. Personally, I like faces more than anything else, especially with children. So I try to keep everything else to a minimum.

One things for sure in this business, if you think that everyone else will always like what you like you're in trouble. Most of my clients come to me because they want something more "natural" then they get from the school portrait or department store portrait studio. You can bet that if the day ever comes when they start asking for elaborate staged scenes... I'll be buying my first styrofoam rock.

Booray Perry is a children's photographer in Tampa Bay

Photographing children is easier when they aren't yours...

My 5-year-old, Samantha, started Pre-K this week. Our pediatrician says that Sam has "good leadership skills," which is fancy doctor talk for, "bossy." This particular attribute paid off in spades this week because there was no drama at all when the time came to go to school for the first time ever. Sam couldn't wait for Bobbi to leave after the drop-off, "Thanks for the ride babe, see ya after school!"

One of the things that Sam was supposed to bring to school was a family photo. (Let me just sidetrack here for a second and point out that my daughter's backpack was so big and full it looked like she was getting set to hike Yellowstone. I think she actually had bear repellent in there...) Anyway, Dad's a photographer so a family photograph is easy, right? We're bound to have a ton of those, right?

Nope. Not one.

I'm always taking the pictures, I'm rarely in them. So, after dinner tonight we went up to the studio and took a quick picture so that Sam wouldn't forget what we look like during her three hours of school a day. Of course we weren't able to get a good shot because the kids were going crazy playing and it's hard to set the lighting right on yourself (sit still Booray while Booray adjusts the lighting...) but we got something that will do for now. Most of the pictures turned out like this:



As you can see, Bobbi and Sam are trying to pose for daddy while Mac runs in circles around them...


Ooops! Almost got a picture that time!

Children are like a box of chocolates: You never know what you're gonna get (and they attract ants). As it turned out, we didn't get exactly what we came for but we did get some stuff we weren't expecting...



Booray Perry is a children's photographer in Tampa who's children won't sit still long enough to take a family portrait

Wedding photographer Tampa will work for food

It's a tough market out there for a wedding photographer in Tampa and St. Petersburg. One of the things I've noticed is that people seem to break down into two types when it comes to picking a wedding photographer. Some want a wedding photographer and some want an event photographer. The problem occurs when a person thinks they want a wedding photographer but wants to pay an event photographer rate.

Confused yet? Allow me to explain...

First, lets help you figure out what you really want for your wedding. Are you getting married in a big ceremony with reception? Are you sending out announcement cards? Do you want a wedding album? Would you like professional level prints with retouching? Do you need to sit down with your photographer and discuss in detail what you want on the day of the wedding? Would you like engagement pictures or bridal pictures? If these things sound right for you than you need a wedding photographer.

Are you getting married in a small ceremony on the beach and you want a photographer to come take pictures for a few hours and give you a CD or DVD with all the images (no prints, no retouching)? When you think of your wedding photographer, do you think, "I just need someone to come take good pictures and document the event." You want an event photographer.

In Tampa and St. Petersburg you get a lot of small, beach weddings. Many times these weddings are on a tight budget and can't imagine spending $1000 or more on a wedding photographer. That's when it's good to know that you can hire an event photographer and save money. In my case, I do both event photography and wedding photography but when someone pays for a wedding package, they get much more. If you hire me at my event rate you may never meet me until the day of the wedding. I show up on time, stay as long as you are paying me for, shoot hundreds of pictures, burn them to CD for you and we're done. Because I am a professional portrait and wedding photographer, I'll naturally do whatever I can to get you good pictures.

However, if you hire me at my wedding photographer rate I'll bring you in for a consultation before you ever sign the contract and show you everything I can do for you. I'll help you figure out what you really want from the day. I may show up at the rehearsal dinner and snap some casual pics, scout the wedding venue to determine the best places to shoot and how the light falls. I'll do an engagement session or bridal session with you. If you are purchasing a wedding album I'll have that in mind as I work so that I'm sure to get pictures that will make great backgrounds and decorations. Your book and any portraits will be retouched by hand so that they are magazine quality. The list goes on...

The point is, there's something for everyone. With a wedding package you get so much more in terms of time and commitment from your photographer that you naturally have to pay more for it. With an event photographer you get a bargain price but your photographer probably won't be thinking about your wedding until he's on his way to it.

Booray Perry is a wedding photographer in Tampa St. Petersburg

There's something in my eye

I was doing fine.

I mean, it was sad and all.... Julie Roberts has just died and Sally Fields was in the waiting room giving instructions to her family about the funeral home and clothes... but I was okay with it.

Then, Sally Fields said, "Where's Jack Jr?" ... and someone said, "He's with his aunt.." and she took off running.

......and it hit me in the chest like a sledgehammer. I literally caught my breath. That's never happened to me before. But then, I didn't have children the last time I watched it...

Booray Perry is a photographer in Tampa who cries like a baby while watching "Steel Magnolias" with his wife.

Portrait session with a future MVP

I had a photo shoot yesterday with a Dad who was looking for a little bit more than he was getting from his Little League photographer. I do Little League pictures as well but when you are shooting hundreds of kids in one day it's pretty much an assembly line process with everyone getting the same pose, etc. With a custom session you get so much more time with the player and of course the pictures are retouched individually. This is a good example of an area that parents don't always think about when it comes to pictures.

If your child is into sports or cheerleading, at some point during their childhood try to have them shot by a pro. Some parents will spring for professional senior portraits but I think it pays to do it a little more often. Imagine having a pro photograph your little baseball player every year and then, when they graduate high school, presenting them with a flush-mount, custom designed photo book that documents their life in sports. That's a gift they'll keep forever and pass down to their kids!

Booray Perry is a children's and sports photographer in Tampa Bay

Fun with Photoshop

Yesterday we went to the park with the girls and I took a few shots. Most photographers will tell you that taking pictures of your own kids is much harder than working with a client because your own kids won't listen to you. They've made a life out of ignoring daddy, why change now?

I did manage to get a few good pictures and then I decided to have a little fun with Photoshop. Bobbi (my wife) is big into scrapbooking so I'm constantly being asked to do special effects for her designs. You'd be surprised how often you can take a photograph that doesn't seem out of the ordinary and turn it into something good.

By the way, if you think I post a lot of pictures of my kids on this blog your right. I do it for two reasons:

First, I used to have a blog where I wrote whatever I wanted and posted pics of the kids and my family would read it to stay up-to-date. Since starting this blog I don't have time for the other so I post a lot of pics of the kids here instead.

Second, I don't have to get my kids to sign a model release. :)

Booray Perry is a photographer and dad in Tampa Bay.

Children's photography made easy

I love this picture so much I may have to put it on my business cards...

Booray Perry is a children's photographer in Tampa Bay

Fill-flash at the zoo

We took the kids to the zoo on saturday and lasted all of about 30 minutes before it started pouring down rain. About the only thing we got to do was feed the birds in the aviary. I wanted to post this picture because it is a wonderful example of using flash outdoors. If you have a camera that allows you to adjust the flash output you almost always want to dial it down a notch or two when shooting outdoors. A lot of camera's have a "fill-flash" mode but even that is usually too much. Remember, the trick is to have just enough flash to lift the shadows but not so much that the subject becomes washed in artificial light. I think this picture is just about perfect.

Booray Perry is a photographer in Tampa

What is custom photography?

Time and again I hear from new clients that the main reason they came to me was because they wanted pictures that looked natural. Usually they have made a few trips to a "discount" studio and been unhappy with the cookie-cutter results. I've never had an unhappy customer (which makes me very happy) but I often feel bad when I tell someone my prices when I know they have been going to discount studios. My prices are lower than most custom photographers but still, prepare for a little sticker shock if you think that portraits should sell for $19.95.

I came across this post written by Marianne Drenthe for ProfesssionalChildPhotography.com that really does a good job of explaining why it costs more to go to a custom photographer. I'm reprinting it here with permission....

The photographic art you choose to place on your wall is ultimately the result of the vision of the photographer. This vision, coupled with what you wear to your session, the environment, the lighting, even the mood the subjects are in at the time of photographing creates the work that you will want to proudly display on your walls forevermore.

Your first step in the process is more about determining who you are, who your family is and then seeking a photographer that reflects your style. For instance let’s say your family is extremely outdoorsy and loves playing on the beach. You start determining what style you like, browse through photography website portfolios and determine if any of the styles exhibited there would be a good fit with your life and family style. You have already determined that you should probably seek out a beach type photographer (that is if you live near a beach) and then begin narrowing the field down a bit.

Finally after a bit of internet research, you have narrowed it down to two photographers who do what seems like solid work, the sort of outdoor beach look you desire. It is now time to ask yourself: Do you like photographer A’s style over photographer B’s style? Is it because the people in the images of A’s style are having a great time and it seems very caught up in the moment vs. B photographer more posed, looking in the camera images? If this is a case, you probably like lifestyle photography or perhaps even take it a step further and define your desired style as a photojournalistic photography style. The photographer you probably should choose is photographer A because their style is very similar to the style you desire.
What custom photography ultimately is all about is choice and experience (as in THE experience). Custom photography is about finding someone who will photograph your family, give you devoted 1:1 attention without worry of the next ‘in line’ or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio. A custom photographer will typically show you a fairly extensive gallery culled to only show the good images that meet the photographers’ creative sensibilities. Often the images are fully edited images-color corrected with blemishes and undereye circles removed. Custom photographers are also known as boutique studios, offering a range of products and unparalleled service. Think Lexus vs. Hyundai, think Nordstrom vs. WalMart.

Custom photography should have you, the client and your experience in mind.


Why does Custom Photography cost more?

Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a price though. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into all of this.
Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:
"How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at the local drug store?"
The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.

TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:
Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is travelling an hour to your on location session. TIme break down:

Session prep time (30 mins - 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
One hour travel time TO session
15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
One hour travel time FROM session
30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
1 hour sorting through and checking order
30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
Any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues
As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under 13 hours to 19 hours dependent on the photographer’s level of service. This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session.




COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:
Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital slr for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography. A good lens for portrait photography can run up $900 to $2500. A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.

Then come lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success. Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip the intricate details. There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES:
Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $25 for an 8×10 or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service. According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February 2007 a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation? The reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ "professional" prints if you do not sell enough of them. Interestingly enough - those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10). The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait studios in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments. Your "PORTRAITS" are considered the true "loss leader".

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions. You simply get a bare bones, "SAY CHEESE" experience. Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.


REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:
Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part. Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism. A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography. Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream? They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..

Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch. To create good work good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity. The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability. This is how reputations get built. Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories. The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

Booray Perry is a custom photographer in Tampa Bay

Wedding Photographer Tampa

I was writing an email to a potential client today and as I always do, I encouraged her to call me so that we can better figure out what kind of photography she wants for her Tampa wedding. I really pride myself on taking time to understand what a person wants from their wedding (or photo session). many times they don't really know what they want and talking to me helps put it all together.

So, with that in mind I thought I would write a little bit about a very popular wedding photography product lately: The Picture CD (sometimes called a hi-res DVD).

Some wedding photographers don't even offer prints. They just offer to shoot the wedding and sell you a CD with the original digital files ( I call these "fire-and-forget" photographers). This sounds like a great idea on the surface because you get all the original pictures from your wedding and you can print them whenever you like. There's no doubt that an 8x10 printed at Wal-Mart is quite a bit cheaper than an 8x10 printed by a pro photographer. However, hiring someone to shoot your wedding and then printing pictures yourself from the original files is a little like hiring someone to build you a Mercedes and then painting it yourself with a can of Rustoleum. If your photographer is also a Professional Photoshop Artist than shooting the picture is only half the work. Here's an example:

This is the original picture as I took it of my lovely wedding couple strolling down the beach after getting hitched. It was getting dark and I was trying desperately to get as much of the background in the shot as possible. If you took this file to Wal-Mart and printed it, this is what it would look like. Maybe. You see, not every photo printer is set up the same way so you never really know what you will get until it arrives. That's why professionals use pro labs and have their monitors color-matched so that they get exactly what they expect to get.

Here's what the same picture looks like after a little adjusting in Photoshop. However, your image won't look like this because you don't have photoshop or the extensive training it takes to use it properly. Your image will look like the first one.

Now we start to see the advantages of having your picture printed by a pro. This couple liked it in black and white so I converted it for them and then removed all the people from the beach. Suddenly, our couple has Clearwater Beach all to themselves..

Finally, the brides hair had blown across her right cheek and nose in the original so I cleaned that up too. Now, scroll up the the first picture and compare it to this one. Which one would you rather have sitting on your nightstand?

As much as it seems like a great idea to spend all your money on owning every picture, it's usually a better idea to spend that money on some high-quality, beautiful prints that you can hang in your home and look at for years to come. Buy some good prints or a wedding book, then buy the full lot on CD if your budget allows it. There's a very good reason why my prints cost more than the ones from Wal-Mart: They're worth it. The funny thing is that it takes a lot more time for me to hand re-touch and print photo's for my clients than it does to just burn a CD. Why do I create more work for myself? Because I want every picture I take to look as good as it possibly can. Call it ego or pride or whatever but If someone sees a picture I took in your home I want them to say, "Wow, that's a great picture!" They won't say that if it was printed at a drugstore.

There are exceptions, of course. The most notable is the rare wedding where I'm the only photographer (like an elopement). Sometimes you just want a good record of the event and buying the digital negatives is the way to go. Other times a client knows exactly what they want and they want the CD. I'm happy to do whatever makes you happy as long as you understand that your prints will never look as good printed by the kid in the photo kiosk at Target as they will re-touched and printed by the person who has to put his signature on them. (that's me)

The bottom line is that you need to understand what you are getting when you sign on with a "fire-and-forget" photographer. The fact is that you will probably get better pictures than you could have possibly gotten without a pro... but you won't get exceptional pictures. That requires re-touching in Photoshop. Just be careful when you look at a wedding photographer's website because I've never seen one that didn't have re-touching on every picture. If you buy the CD expecting your pictures to look like what was on the website you will be disappointed.

Booray Perry is a wedding photographer in Tampa bay

Don't be afraid to ditch the color

Beware the photographer who only shoots in black and white.

Just to be clear, there are a lot of great, artistic photographers out there (some right here in Tampa/St. Petersburg) who shoot predominately in black and white because they have an artistic motive. However, there are some that shoot in black and white because they are lazy.

You see, light is a tricky thing. The biggest problem with light is that it refuses to maintain the same temperature regardless of the source. Light from the sun doesn't look the same as light from a light bulb, which doesn't look the same as light from a fluorescent light bulb... and on and on....

So, what can happen is that you'll take a picture of someone who is lit by two different sources, say, a flash and the sun, and the color will get all wonky because the camera can only adjust for one color at a time. But if you convert to black and white...PRESTO! No color, no color mistakes. (I know from which I speak because I've done it. Every photographer has converted an image to black and white because the color is bad. It's a dirty little secret of the profession) To avoid this problem, a photographer has to set his camera to a custom white balance setting or fine tune the white balance in post-production. It's time consuming and tedious.

That being said, there are still a lot of situations that simply demand black and white and if you are not using this option with your camera you are missing out on a lot of great pictures. Black and white can change many things about a picture but for this post I just want to show an example of one.

In this picture, your eye is drawn to the skirt. How can it not be, it's so bright and pink and everything else is sorta flat. However, I don't want to look at the skirt, I want to look at the cutest little ballet dancer in the whole wide world (who just happens to be my daughter).

Now the attention is drawn away from the skirt and onto the face because the face is lighter than the skirt. The entire feel and focus of the picture has changed just by converting to black and white.

In this picture, black and white guarantees that you are seeing the girls and not the outfits. I have often wondered if the way we perceive black and white pictures has something to do with news print being black and white. Do we subconsciously legitimize a picture that is in black and white because it looks like something we would see in the newspaper? Time will tell because the younger generation gets all their news in color. Will black and white not provoke the same reaction for them?

Booray Perry is a photographer in Tampa Bay

My small-screen debut

I got a call this morning from my cousin to inform me that my pictures were on Good Morning America.

Last weekend we were invited to a birthday party for a 1-year-old little girl. The couple having the party are friends and neighbors of my cousin and we had met them once before when they came to my house for a graduation party. It was funny because when I went to put my camera bag in the car my wife said, "Are you sure they won't mind if you take pictures?"

"Bobbi," I replied, "it's the first birthday of their only child and they have invited someone who just happens to be a professional photographer. Believe me, they're hoping I bring my camera." (not that I was invited because I'm a photographer but hey, if you invite Eric Clapton to the house, it's nice if he brings his guitar.... not that I'm the Eric Clapton of photography but...okay, you get the point...)

The party was lovely and Sim did a wonderful job with decorations and treats for the kids. The next day I took them an 8 x 10 print of their daughter as well as a CD that contained all the pictures I took at the party.

Well, apparently Good Morning America has some sort of deal where they show pictures of 1-year-old birthday parties and they sent in some of the pictures that I took... and that's how my pictures ended up on good morning America.

Booray Perry is an event photographer in Tampa, St. Pete