"Young Guns"

It's official. My kids have fallen in love with photography! I had no idea it was going to hit them so hard, so quickly! Of all the shoots to be their first, this one was THE one to get their juices flowing. An appropriate comparison would be having your first steak dinner at Morton's Steak House versus Sizzler. If you start at the top there's no where to go except up, up and up. Now remember that my son is 14 and in my mind (obviously complete denial) he has no interest in girls whatsoever. HA!!!! Was I ever wrong!!!! Then I remembered being 14 and completely boy crazy and as soon as this all started I realized that he was living a fantasy come true. When I first asked him to assist us in shooting he gave me this answer like I was asking him to go stand in front of a moving truck. However, when I casually added that we would be shooting 4 very lovely 15-year old girls he just turned to me and said, "ok, I'll go!" Funny how you can so easily persuade a 14 year old boy to do something, isn't it. It wasn't just the girls that did it for him, I think he truly saw the magic that we all feel when we shoot. It's indescribable really, it's the ultimate high in my opinion to create something special that you KNOW the person will treasure for the rest of their life. My daughter loved it as well, maybe not as much as her brother but between the two of them I think everyone should look out because my two YOUNG GUNS are on their way to the top!!!!! Here are a few favorites.............



(this next one is priceless! They're both checking out the histogram even though they have no idea what it is!!)



The lovely young women being photographed. Goodness!!!! I did NOT look like that at 15, it's totally unfair!






I LOVE this one and it is now proudly displayed in my home!



This is a trademark Cindy Meadors Photography shot, I'll do practically anything for "the shot!"



Imagine it, do it and LIVE IT!!!!!

~Cindy

Finding lost friends

The world wide web, with all it's downfalls, can sometimes be a place where lost friends find each other. So was the case a few months ago when I found a very dear friend on Facebook. After a few month we were able to get together and I asked her if I could shoot her in her native clothing as she is from India and have always loved the beautiful sari's she has worn from time to time. Poonam is a beautiful person, inside and out and seeing her again was wonderful. She hadn't changed one bit although we hadn't seen each other for almost 10 years, must be good living!!!! Here are just a few of the beautiful images captured that day. Friends are a precious thing, it's always such a gift to get one back that you thought was lost!!!







~Cindy~

Interested in wedding photography? Then run (don't walk) and buy this book!!!

I have been anticipating the release of the book, "Fast Track Photographer" for quite some time.  Not because I know the caliber of Dane Sanders, the photographer, which is highly accomplished but I also have gotten to know Dane Sanders, the man.  He's brilliant, fascinating to listen to, has a heart of gold and is truly passionate about making a difference in people's lives.  Honestly, I would read any book he would publish but this one happens to be about something "I" am passionate about as well and am very excited about the impact this book is going to make in the photography world.  Since the book hasn't arrived yet I have been reading it in .pdf format and it's SO good.  When the hard copy arrives, trust me......it will be my constant companion and will probably read it a dozen times.   If you are at all interested in making it in the world of wedding photography, this is the best investment you could make in giving yourself the tools needed to get started.   You can order your copy of Dane's book here.

Keeping it real!

Cindy

Free To Succeed

I truly don't know where to begin with this one because this was one night, one wild night that made my head spin and so far it hasn't stopped!!!  On Wednesday night I attended the much anticipated "Free To Succeed" seminar in Los Angeles put on by no other than David Jay and Jasmine Star.  You all remember how excited I was a few months back to meet Mike Colón and Jessica Claire at the Missional Photography class arranged by Dane Sanders.  After that I thought I was pretty darn happy.  Then DJ and Jasmine announce this tour and I thought "hollllllla!" (that was for you, Jasmine!)

So the day comes and I get there and immediately Jasmine and her wonderful husband, JD come up to me and she says hi and introduces her to me.  I shake her hand back and introduce myself and think to myself "I don't just want to shake her hand, I know everything about her.  I even know what she ate the other night in San Diego!"  So I do what any friend would do and threw my arms around her and gave her a big hug.  She was so gracious and wonderful and everything I expected her to be.  

The seminar, for any of you living in cities it is coming to, was the bargain of a lifetime for the knowledge that was shared.  DJ and Jasmine filled us with so much information on marketing, branding, how, to, why and why not that we all walked away with the tools we need to be hugely successful in photography.  I was truly grateful to be sitting in that room.  A room, by the way, in which many were sitting that made we want to jump up and down and scream. Becker, Robert Evans, Jules Bianchi, just to name a few.  Jules is one lady I have wanted to meet for years.  When I started in photography I quickly found her website and blog and literally studied each and every image she posted as I was so mesmerized by her work.  So, to meet her was quite special to me.  Here is a long-awaited photo of the two of us together.

photo by David White of Photocatering

I find myself in a world surrounded by people I have come to not only love, but deeply respect.  One thing that David Jay brought out that has resonated in me every since that evening is that we all need in this life to encourage one another and lift each other up.  The greatest joy I could ever have when I look back someday at the end of my career is that I helped others achieve their dreams through encouragement as so many have done for me.  What could be better than that?

Keeping it real (K.I.R.)

~Cindy~

Jillian and Michael

On Saturday I had the pleasure of 2nd shooting for the wedding of Jillian and Michael.   They are such a lovely couple, you could just see how much they love each other. When I first arrived at her suite, Jillian was wearing a terry wrap and just looked so sweet standing in the doorway.  I could just tell that she was going to be such a pleasure to work with, and I was right!!!  She is sweet, elegant and was such a beautiful bride.  The wedding was at the one and only Ritz Carlton in Dana Point and had a breathtaking view of the ocean.  I can never get enough of the view at the Ritz, never.

~This first shot is one of my favorites, Jillian looks stunning!!!!~

~The newly married couple posed for this right after the ceremony at sunset.  It was spectacular!~

~The lovely flower girl sniffing her beautiful flowers!~

~The details were absolutely exquisite!  It was my first time working with Gail Garceau, one of the best wedding coordinator's you can find.  She made sure every detail was perfect, she's quite the talented lady.  See for yourself~


~Another one of my favorites.  Jillian is a beauty!~

~the flower girl and ring bearer as they are approaching the altar~

~the flowers were so beautiful!~

~Another beautiful and elegant pose~

~The ceremony~




~the food looked delicious!~

~more exquisite details of the reception~

This last shot was so fun!  Actually it was Dave who found it.  This was taken through one of the amazing floral displays and the reflection is of the main building of the Ritz Carlton.  Pretty darn amazing!!!!!

It was a lovely day!  Jillian and Michael, may your life together always be filled with love, joy, wisdom and God's grace.  Thanks for letting me be a part of it.

Blessings,

~Cindy~

 

Distinction

Yesterday was a pivotal day in the life of Cindy Meadors, professionally and spiritually. I woke up and as some people read the morning paper or watch the news, I read blogs. Blogs from some of my favorite photographers, what they are up to, events they recently shot, everything you can imagine. I, for some reason, wasn't in a particularly happy place yesterday morning and then read something that started changing both my heart and my spirit. No surprise that the first one came from one my favorite people and photographers, Mike Colón. Here's what Mike had to say:

"wide awake in a hotel room "

I'm on my back in a hotel room in the dark thinking about life. Its 4am on the East Coast and I'm still on West Coast time so I can't sleep.
Something Julie said to me last night before we went to bed is still ringing in my head. It was something she has never said to me before and it kinda felt weird hearing her say it. She said "You're big time." She's always told me how proud she is of me but has never straight up told me I am "big time" before. I have to admit that for a second it gave me a big head, but I quickly realized that everything we have accomplished in our business and in life has been 100% by the awesome and undeserved grace of God. Although we have worked extremely hard, I simply can't forget about the dozens of times God bailed us out of sure financial disaster!

This is what i know: Life is fragile! I screw up often! The more I live the more I realize that God is involved in every area of my life, holding it together so it doesn't crumble beneath me.

My secret to success: Get right with God (often). Pray every night for wisdom, blessings, forgiveness, safety, and to be used by Him. Remember to thank Him for everything good in your life!
Thank you Lord for my beautiful wife and two boys. Thank you for always taking care of us! Help me not to live in vain but to do your work and share your love with others.
Ok goodnight all :) God bless!

My day started getting drastically better when I heard the "icing on the cake." It came from the incredible Dane Sanders through another amazing photographer, David Jay. David Jay will be traveling all over the country this summer and will be hosting a seminar called, "Free to Succeed." I am so excited to be attending this seminar and will have the opportunity to meet not only himself, but Jasmine Star. Oh, la, la!!! This is going to be one fantastic tour. I wish it was next week and not almost two months away, what a great opportunity it's going to be to listen to and learn from both of them.

David Jay was speaking on Dane's blog about Dane's upcoming book entitled "Fast Track Photographer," due out very soon (Dane, I can't WAIT to read it!!) THIS is the line that has stirred up all sorts of things in me, it kept me up last night, all night. Couldn't sleep a wink thinking about it. It's profound, so write it down or better yet memorize it and say it to yourself all day long. Here goes:

"You must remember to be personally and professionally distinct in order to avoid extinction." In other words, what is it that sets you apart from the next person? Why should someone hire me, as opposed to hundreds or thousands of other photographers out there? That's the question I have been pondering for the last 24 hours. I'm going to leave it at that for now, meditate for a while on that thought and will post more tomorrow as I want to make sure I am able to identify specific things that are truly different about me than anyone else. Stay tuned, you know.......this is the kind of thing that changes the course of one's life.

All the best,

~Cindy~

A New Era

As a photographer, you find joy in most every image you take.  Some are good, some are very good and some absolutely make your heart sing.  Well, this one is making me sing like a bird.  I happen to love the subject of this photo more than I can say.  He's my son, my first born, and he's moving on to high school.  Can't believe it, the time has gone by so fast!!!!  It seems like yesterday he was crawling around in diapers, playing with Hot Wheels, just a toddler.  Now, you're all grown up!  

Is it me, or is he incredibly handsome?  I just wanted to give him a shout out and tell him how very proud I am of him and that his mom is crazy about him.  My son, may God always bless you!!

~mom~