HOW TIME FLIES! December 2009 through February 2010

I'm going to just jam about three months worth of things in here. As many of you know, Edie's dad passed away in late November of 2009. Most of the year in 2009, work was sort of hit or miss because we chose to take care of him. One of the last things he told Edie was that he wanted us to get back on the road as quickly as possible and "go make beautiful pictures." And so we have.

We made a huge sweep up to Wisconsin, down through Indiana, across to New Jersey and then back to South Carolina. It was one heck of a trip, our cats were mad as could be by the time we got home, and we were thoroughly worn to a frazzle. We got to see our dear friend, Lois Pade, in Kenosha, WI. She looked just as lovely as she did the last time we were up there and we were glad to have the chance to work with her again. We took a tour of the Jelly Belly warehouse while there and stocked up on all our favorite flavors. Getting to sample literally any flavors we wanted was a big help! Otherwise, I'd have come home with some of everything. At least we didn't get any really gross flavors (which they do have). While it wasn't a tour of the factory where they are made, it was still pretty cool in its own right. The tour guide was a young man who was either very nearly out of his mind, or he was high as a kite. Either way it was hilariously entertaining. We also went to Uke's Harlely Davidson on 120th Ave. It is one of the oldest Harley dealerships, certainly Wisconsin's oldest, dating back to 1930...so the t-shirt says. It was fun to just wander around and compare it to our dealership here. After that, we stopped in at Uncle Mikes. Any way you could possibly want a hamburger, they have it. And apparently 40 trillion different kinds of beers including a big selection from local micro breweries. It was a game day, so the place was packed with folks who didn't mind letting you know which team they were pulling for. Unfortunately, there were several people in there who seemed determined to have one of each of those 40 trillion beers. Edie went outside to take a phone call and very narrowly missed the side-spray from a guy who came outside for the sole purpose of throwing up. Check please! We also paid a visit on the way out of town again to Tim & Tom's Cheese Shop. They relocated since we were last there, but we found them. As usual, if it's cheese or dried meat you want, they have a selection that will boggle your mind. You can order items online through their web site but it's much more fun to shop in the store!

Then it was off to Indiana, where we met Cathi Lloyd for the first time. She was a delight to work with. This year, Decorating Den Interiors is allowing images with people and pets into their Dream Room competition. We watched as a homeowner got their dog to sit still just on the promise of a carrott (not kidding!), which the dog ate and seemed to love! We photographed in another home with a dog, and while I know that everyone who is a dog lover will say their dog is THE cutest, you will have to admit that this is right up there. Meet Reilly.

I won't spoil the anticipation by showing you the whole image, not until after the Dream Room competition in May. Yes, we have to wait until MAY to find out who won what! So then it was on to New Jersey, where Edie finally got to meet her friend Karen Sanders at last, after years of knowing her. We were a tad nervous about this photo shoot because world-famous interior designer and off-off Broadway star, Tom Berta, was going to be there assisting Karen (see Tom's review of us on our testimonials web page). It turned out to be fabulous and fun and we loved every second of it. And we discovered the nice side to Jersey (yes, it does have one!). What? A part of Jersey that we really like? Yes indeed. Despite the ridiculous toll roads, not being allowed to pump your own gas, the traffic and unsightly areas, New Jersey has a little place of quiet charm and grace in Clark. We stayed at the Crown Plaza there. You can't fault them on their ettiquette or efficiency there. We went on our usual hunt for traditional Irish cuisine and found Molly Maguire's. Normally we can work up a conversation with one of the wait staff and have something nice to write about them. All I can tell you is that after giving them two chances, we can only say that the food is fair and if you're there at the right time, you may get some free hor'sdoeuvres. What we did find was that in general, once you got past their reserved exterior, people there were inclined to be kind to strangers and helpful despite our odd southern accent. And we found a friend in Karen Sanders, a gifted and talented interior designer whose rooms we will photograph any time with great delight. Our last room of the day was in her house. As we passed through the quiet neighborhoods to get there, we realized that we were both captivated by this place. There is a certain thing you can feel in older neighborhoods...something intangible but nonetheless real. It's there in places where families have grown up for generations, where people stay in the home they love dearly, where all their family memories are. Karen treated us to a cozy dinner. She has a way of telling stories that had us nearly rolling on the floor laughing, which had a much-needed therapeutic effect on both of us. We finally managed to drag ourselves home to find three distinctly unhappy cats tapping their little claws on the newly refinished hardwoods, as if to say, "and just what is the meaning of leaving us lap-less for days on end??" So we had to have many rounds of petting and combing and listening to lots of fussing, and allowing ourselves to be climbed on like a tree before forgiveness was to be had. Thank goodness Edie's mom took it all in stride and didn't act anywhere nearly so bad about it. All we had to do to get back in her good graces was go to the store and restock her cupboards! However, the end result of all the hubbub was that our normally very reclusive little blue-blood, Tinker, came out for an interview and photo session. His fur still wouldn't lay flat and he really was miffed for days, but in true cat form, when we rolled out the black background for a product shoot, he couldn't resist.

So we were off again, this time to Kentucky to work with Kristen Pawlak and Jeanne Sallee. We have worked with Jeanne several times, but Kristen was new to us. We have always loved the trip through KY. It is beautiful and somehow the drive seems easy even though it really isn't, especially with all the I-40 detour stuff from the rock slide. Kristen was a pleasure to work with and as always, we loved working with Jeanne. We had the privilege to photograph a room in the old Governor's Mansion in Frankfort, KY. Historic details were abundant.

Next stop: Virginia and the Washington, DC, area for a visit with Lauren Riddiough and her mom, Linda, as well as a date with Kristy Falcone and Tamyra Spear in Virginina Beach. We had never worked with Kristy or Tamyra before, but it was our second photo shoot with Lauren. The first stop on Lauren's shoot ended up with five women including Edie, all of them putting their two cents worth in at the same time...and me behind the camera wondering what I had gotten myself into. I looked around and said, "Are there any more women in the house?" The homeowner shot right back at me saying., "No, but I have a neighbor if you want one more woman's opinion!" We had a truly lovely time with them, and as always the "fire and ice" mix of Linda Riddiough and myself was just plain fun. We felt right at home with Kristy Falcone and had one of those wonderfully exhaustive photo shoots where we pushed ourselves long and hard all day to get everything photographed that we wanted. It was worth it. Then it was on to Virginia Beach to meet Tamyra Spear. She felt like an old friend in less than 30 minutes and we had a fabulous day with her. It was just before Christmas and we stayed on the beach, which was entirely decorated with huge light displays and was just impressive to see. More about that leg of the trip in a moment...

On our day off, we decided to brave the cold and visit the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Had to, after seeing the movie, Night at the Museum! We literally spent the better part of the day there. The Hope Diamond was an impressive sight, but not so easily photographed for several reasons...not the least of which was a guard who didn't want anyone getting right up on the glass. I did in fact hear the words, "Sir, step away from the diamond" right before I clicked. One particularly enticing exhibit for us was the butterfly arboretum. While you can get into the museum for free (good thing, because a light lunch was $40!), there was a fee to get into the arboretum. It was worth the price to get the photos that we came away with. I made a new buddy in there; one butterfly just seemed fascinated by me.

As most of you know, we're not well-to-do (all our money goes into photo equipment...imagine that!) and when we travel sometimes we need to stay in the most affordable place around, provided it isn't literally the bottom of the barrell as far as hotels go. I do have my limits. So we found an Econo-Lodge right on the beach when we got to Virginia Beach. We were completely surprised all the way around with this one. It was really quite nice, very clean, and had everything we needed. But it was the staff at this hotel that just blew me away. The young lady at the front desk was bright, articulate and witty. Check-in was a blast, I kid you not. We had been to Harpoon Larry's our first night there, and it was respectable as a sort of college crowd hang-out with good food. They have a fireplace in the corner of the restaurant area which is sectioned off from the bar, so we could hear ourselves talk. But the next night we wanted to celebrate my birthday somewhere a little more intimate and a little less noisy. So we asked for a recommendation at the front desk of the hotel. She gave us printed directions to a place called Tautogs that is something of a local secret. There IS no sign, the restaurant is in a 1920's beach house, and if you weren't directed to it you'd never find it. Well, you might if you were driving around with your window rolled down because it smells delicious right around that end of the block. From start to finish, that was probably the most enjoyable, delectible and totally rewarding dining experience we've had in a long, long time. Was it inexpensive? No, and it shouldn't have been either. We both ordered chef's specials and were rewarded with taste and texture sensations that were incredible. Have you ever had food so good that you just wanted to be left alone with your plate? No interruptions, no need to talk, just you and food that has taken over all your senses? Well, if you have, then you know what I was going through. We savored every moment. Whoever owns this place has service down to a fine art as well. We were never bothered by repeated inquiries as to our needs, but we were never left needing anything. And the wait staff was young, I'm telling you! They just constantly walked around and regardless of whose table they passed, if they saw something that needed attention, they just hopped right to it. As a consequence, we were constantly full-up on beverages and when Edie dropped a fork another appeared in seconds. My napkin was replaced as soon as it got a tad messy. They watched people, timing their inquiries so that you never felt interrupted. All that 5-star service in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Totally cool.

While in Sterling, VA again, we stopped in at O'Faolain's Irish Pub since we had been there the previous year. In true Irish fashion, they were economical with their greetings but full of dry wit and smiles. It was refreshing to find that the same young man we had met there last year was still there and actually remembered us. The food was just as good as it was the last time, which tells me that somebody is very consistent there. And as always, we enjoyed chattting and trying to keep up with the banter being rattled out in a thick accent. Incidentally, we had originally thought we'd try something new and go to Sweetwater Tavern across the road. We were there about 30 minutes with an appetizer before we opted out. Service was entirely too slack and what little we ate was nothing special.

On to New York to work with our new friends, Yelena Gertz in Staten Island, and Sharon Hibbard in Warwick. Edie said they were just absolute sweethearts (I might have thought that, but I let her say it). After we got to Warwick, Edie went out exploring on her own a little and discovered the Warwick Cemetery. She has always enjoyed wandering around old cemeteries reading the tombstones. It seems a bit creepy on the one hand, but it's also a very interesting and sometimes historically informative venture. It does give one insight into the past and the way things used to be. These days, you don't see the massive statuary like you see in the old, old cemeteries. She returned with photographs, the giggles and a mildly unhinged look. I certainly didn't understand the giggles until she explained and showed me the photo of this big massive thing with the family name DeKay on it (DeKay...decay...cemetery). I guess I should apologize to anyone who is a member of the DeKay family in Warwick, NY. There is nothing funny about the passing of your ancestor. However, being alone in a strange place on a dismal, foggy and downright spooky day...in a cemetery where half of the tombstones were taller than she was and something horrid could have jumped out from behind any one of them and snatched her away from this earth forever (ok, she has an incredibly vivid and overactive imagination)...and coming across that tomb just caught her offguard and, well...I do apologize.

Regarding Warwick, NY, tucked away in the mountains is this delightful little town. There are an abundance of charming and gracious old homes turned in to bed and breakfast inns. However, being on a tight budget, we discoverd the Warwick Motel. Now here is a little
hidden gem. No, it didn't have all the charm of the local B&Bs. It didn't sport a glamorous facade. It was simple, clean, less expensive than any other place around, easy to find and independently owned and operated. What that means in this particular case is that the owner, Harry, genuinely cares that you have a great stay. It was nice to have someone really want to make sure everything was ok. And yes, Harry, it was more than ok. It was just what we needed. As usual we feretted out the nearest traditional Irish food, downtown at a place called Blarney Station. Cozy, quaint atmosphere and some really good, traditional Irish fare. The Shepherd's Pie was hearty and very tasty.

Edie had one last day of Dream Room shoots in Charlotte, NC, with Patrice Hawkins and Cathy Workman. All I can say is that she did some of her best work ever that day. Thanks ladies, for your faith in her!

Thanks to the gracious and caring people with the Lutheran Hospice organization in Greer, SC, we were able to get Edie's dad home from the hospital and had some really good, quality time with him before he passed away. She took photos for him of things he especially liked, such as fall leaves and flowers. Here are a couple of her photos from that special time with him.

Advertising During A Recession

There is historically a strong case for increased advertising during a recession. Mark Van Horn, who runs support groups for small business owners says, "What everyone cuts first is marketing, which is crazy. Look at your marketing to see where you actually get a return. But the last thing you want to do is eliminate the thing that will bring in new business." A classic example of this is Kellogg and C.W. Post during the Great Depression. Consumers didn't totally stop spending, and Kellogg knew that keeping its name in the forefront of everyone's mind would pay off. It did, and not just in the short term. When spending picked up again and Post resumed a normal marketing campaign, consumer loyalty remained with Kellogg. Another example, and one that pertains to what was then considered non-essential spending, was the case of Chevrolet and Ford during the same time period. During the 1920s, Fords were outselling Chevrolets by 10 to 1. Chevrolet expanded its advertising budget and by 1931 the "Chevy 6" took the lead and remained there for the next five years. Simply put, the companies with the most sales and growth were those which advertised heavily. This trend has proven true in every economic recession since. The short-sighted decision by many companies to implement advertising cutbacks left many customers feeling abandoned and associated the affected compannies with a lack of styaing power. Dropping out of sight, where your client base is concerned, is not a good idea, particularly if your competition is doing just the opposite. One company that seemed to prove this point is Stanley Works. In 1974, one of the world's largest manufactureres of hand tools decided to launch a huge advertising campaign to combat softening demand for its consumer products. It worked. While the heavy industrial tool division fell somewhat, its consumer business took up the slack, increasing sales and preventing future decline. Stanley's hand tool business had a continued 8% growth rate, twice that of its competition who chose to dramatically decrease advertising spending. Some companies rely on price incentives to boost lackluster sales. Avi Dan of Ad Age points out that this is dangerous because it devalues the company name and it is hard to break away from that later and increase prices. CEO Drew Reisser of the marketing consulting group Renegade suggests focusing on advertising with clear and proven returns on investment such as Internet and promotional advertising. Just remember this. During difficult economic times, you need to build equity and solidify your client base, gain new customers and make inroads on your competition who may be trying to save money by cutting their advertising budget which will render them almost invisible at a time when your company name will be popping up everywhere. In the photography industry, we have seen recent trends toward more full-page magazine advertising by such groups as the custom kitchen and bath companies. At a time when consumer spending is more selective, several business owners in this category have chosen to increase awareness and put forth an image that definitely shows their business as one that is strong and growing. Another example is that of custom home builders, and this is one area that has been suffering substantially because of the downward trends in the real estate market. However, several savvy builders have watched their competition dwindle down their ad budget and they have chosen to do just the opposite. In speaking with one of our clients recently, we were told that this has given them just the boost they needed and presently they are suffering no lack of business. Another area that is typically hard hit during an economic crunch is the interior design industry. Consumers are being more careful how they spend and tending to spend less on what many consider to be luxury expenditures. But on the positive side, those interior designers who have good web sites with exellent photography of their work seem to be faring much better than their counterparts who do not. They have a target group of consumers they are trying to reach and stay in front of. Said one of our clients, "When the purse strings open, I want to be the only one they think of and the only way that is going to happen is for me to show them that I haven't gone anywhere...I'm still here and still going strong. If they perceive me to be unaffected by the economy, then they assume that I simply must be the best in my field." One of our clients is a company with no store front, who sells consumer products strictly on the Internet. Their philosophy is that better photography does indeed equal more sales. They went from very poor product photos to images that pop off the page and show the product quality very distinctly. It caused a dramatic 300% jump in sales that has held steady ever since. "It gave our business a much more trustworthy image that we desperately needed. When you sell online, you have to look like you're a business and not someone selling junk out of his garage. Trust is the key to sucess there, and having really good product images makes us look like the kind of company that will stand behind what they sell." As the economy struggles, companies who want to not only survive but gain ground will have to look for more ways to capture attention, and photography plays a huge role in that.