Eve

We survived the season, had a great time yesterday, clients picking up prints, Jeni wrapping last few gifts, and a bit of last minute shopping (I guess I was good this year, tomorrow will tell). A very good time today, started off the day tracking Santa (here), great fun with the kids all day as we checked his status, met one last client at the studio this morning to finish the season, will be taking off until wednesday, the longest break we've had this year. Enjoying the evening, Jeni and my Mom (came up this morning) are getting the kids down so we can assist Santa when he arrives shortly, we should have a little time to relax before getting to sleep (I've got a feeling we will be up early in the morning). For everyone, a wonderful day tomorrow is our wish for you, give your kids a hug, or your signifcant other half, or both. So foggy this evening, looks like its based on a certain song....goodnight all and Merry Christmas from the Wiggins Family.

Counting Down

Shortly after 9, Kaitie has fallen asleep next to me on the couch, Jeni and I called it a day about an hour ago (started at 4 this morning), we will start again in a few hours. Fortunately winter break started today, so the kids schedule is much easier, we will hopefully wrap up a lot tomorrow and be able to enjoy the season (we always seem to celebrate the week between Christmas and New Years). This time of year has been, and will always be about the innocence of children and the wonder of the world as seen through their eyes, this image speaks volumes of the bond between the two sisters.

Ache and Pains

Can't believe this week has passed as quickly as it has (almost a week since my last post?!). Day started yesterday late for us (sleeping in until 6 was great), a few hours working on orders, two new sessions with great babies (I love watching babies so observant, just soaking in every aspect of their new life), then our next to last wedding this year. A fun group with yet another great bride (a guest asked how many 'bridezillas' we have had, could easily answer none!), a reception that wrapped up about 10, unloading the van at the studio, unwinding a bit before finally getting some sleep about midnight makes for a long day. Just the way we photograph a wedding, we are keyed up and running from studio prep to studio unload, all the kneeling, running, up and down stairs countless times, the adrenaline pumping as we create images in our allotted time, starting to feel it the next day (but how I love it!). Once this season is over, time to get back to the club.

Getting there

Its almost time for these 15-16 hour days to start catching up, hopefully after our wedding this weekend we can rest a bit before the final holiday push. Most of our frames came in today, will unpack and check them in the morning before matching with prints. New signage for our display booth at Northpark Mall will be ready tomorrow, glad to finally have them up, at least for the end of this season. Always fun to end the day (at least the part of the day we are officially open) with a fun session, these guys were great and Dad proved just how much he supports the family!

ouch...

One of those "I'm glad I reached a stopping point because my eyes just popped out" kinda days. No sessions (we try not to schedule Monday sessions) so today was all about art work, transmitting to the lab, checking incoming orders from the lab, prepping orders for tomorrow, and the last two hours (giving a break to my eyes, uh huh right) listening to music clips for studio work, DVD presentations, website, ect. Very important for me to find and use music I will have royalty-free rights to, as an artist I hate to have my work copied so will certainly respect the rights of music artists. Unwind a bit watching the Saints/Falcons (just looked up and the Saints are winning right before half, well now they are losing thanks to heads up by Vick), read a little (Order of the Phoenix, again), get some sleep and hit the studio about 4 with a good cup of coffee.

B-Day minus 1

Tomorrow is Jeni's birthday (for some reason I've been hearing subtle reminders all week), we will use that as a good reason to eat out, probably at one of our favorites (Bonefish Grill). Give Jeni a call and wish her a happy birthday, or send an email ( davjen@wigginsphoto.com ) ! Great session I mentioned yesterday, decided to post two images as both convey what I saw, one for the family, the one by the fire just because I liked it.

1998

With all the Christmas Card images we are creating, though it would be fun to pull one out of the archives. Patrick and Eric from 1998 along with one of Jeni's Christmas decorations, will have to post last years sometime as well as whatever we come up with this year. Finished a great session this evening, (I love designing and creating images) will post one tomorrow. An interesting day tomorrow as we cover the grand-opening of Babies R Us in Flowood, we enjoy mixing commercial shoots with our portraiture and wedding work, a change up in your routine is always a good thing, somewhat like eating pizza for breakfast.

Another Image

Still going through files, pulling images to add to portfolio. This image is a variation on a favorite look of mine, something about a silhouette that asks questions that there may or may not be answers to (hopefully you will see this image is in anticipation of her ceremony and not why is she standing there like that :) )

Air Force ROTC

Just wrapped up sessions at the AF ROTC Dance at Madison Central, always good to see individuals that are respectful and fun to work with. Pulled this image at random just to have one to post, our thanks to Colonel Gentry for his hospitality during the dance, and of course for the opportunity.

Perspective

I love getting Kaitie up in the morning, she has a great way of putting everything in its proper place with her observations. This week she has been excited about the same occurance and this morning was no exception, a big hug and a big grin as she proudly told me 'the sun came up AGAIN!'. A run to everyone else with the great news, and somehow the day just feels better. One of the reasons I love photographing kids, they can see life as a new day full of new excitement, or they can wonder what the big deal is when we throw a party. Selecting more images for our new wedding flash presentation, came across one of my favorites that perfectly illustrates this.

Card sessions in full swing

Another of "our kids" we've had the pleasure of watching grow up, one of the great perks of what we do. Every season we design more and more of our custom cards, have only had time this year for an old flyer set as a pdf on our site (Christmas Cards), our new presentation will be for promoting 2006 cards.

I was right

Yesterday and today were very busy, primarily with finishing art work and lab transmissions with some custom art printing thrown in for good measure. This image was picked up today, I love it when our clients really connect with the final art piece. Someday I'll have to show some before and afters.

A Nothing (Sorta) Kind of Day

Jeni and I only spent 2 hours at the studio today, then a little bit of actual real believe-it-or-not Christmas shopping (after last hour shopping the last few years, decided to rethink this year). A little bit of light work around the house mixed with a little NFL and a little computer time round out what has turned out to be one of the most relaxing days in months (I guess that means this week will be a long one, but then we already knew that). This image from Sat is one of our favorite families, we love watching the kids grow up.

Still Saturday?

Wow, what a day. Sessions this morning (I'll post one of those tomorrow) and a lot of computer work the rest of the day has left my eyes tired and my brain feeling like mush, but still a good feeling of acomplishment. A closer look at some secondary links on our site showed some problems needing immediate correction, more work on flash templates for presentations rounded out today. Patrick and Eric are both spending the night away from home tonight, so it is quiet(er) with just Kaitie. Looking at more images, have always liked this one (Chelsi was also top in her class).

Countdown until Christmas

Today was another long one, starting at 5 this morning, into the studio shortly before 6. Accomplished alot before location work all afternoon. Wrap up and able to spend a little time with family before heading back home and unwind a little (which brings me to the here and now). A short day tomorrow, sessions all morning which leaves all afternoon for studio work and a little more family time (this time of year is tough on family but we do our best) which Patrick and I may use to see Harry Potter (don't know if Eric can go yet). Had a great session earlier this week (several actually) but this one was really fun. We were asked to create a portrait of a cheerleader, this is what I designed in my mind and then implemented (Dailee did great with the multiple flips). Designing, then creating, images is what this is all about.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving in this day and age: Food is the same as years past, some things you simply don't change. The Cowboys are playing (4th quarter all tied up with the Broncos) and leftovers are on tonights menu, some things may never change. Patrick is in his room gaming (Starcraft) with a friend in Pontotoc while Eric spends a few minutes on XBox (ok, we did relax the rules for a holiday) and I've been working on more flash presentations for the site (once again glad for the wireless on the laptop), tech will always change. Wanted to put up an image of Patrick in his drum corp uni (we did the Memphis Sound individuals), pulled the image off the server at the studio, converted and resized in PS, logged in, typed this entry and uploaded all while watching the game (still tied), I love good tech. BTW, seems like Drum Corps have an unwritten rule concerning any facial expression resembling a smile, Patrick really is a pleasant HS senior.

Thanksgiving Eve

Yet another 14 hour day is wrapped up, and tomorrow is officially a day we are closed (of course that means I will only go in for 2-3 hours in order to prep for Fri sessions. The season continues to build between portrait sessions and our finishing art work. Jeni has family coming into town so we will be with them some, Patrick and I will work some more on our construction job in the garage, we have to get the concrete poured before cold sets in on a permanent basis. The best news is we get to thumb our nose at the alarm clock in the morning and sleep in until 6 or so. Pulled this image to add to our site, love the finishing art work we get to be crazy with at times.

Rainy Day

Alright, going through files for site images and found this image taken during a lull in Katrina. Our little girl loves her red rubber boots, especially when mixed with large puddles.

Finally!

Even though its not completely finished, finally had a chance to get our new site up and running this morning. With the annual Holiday Rush on us, it has been a bear to tie all the pieces together. Designed as a continual work in progress, this site should bridge the time between the old site and what I envision for the future, an update rather than a drastic/radical change.

New site almost finished

Worked on new version of site today, hope to have it finished this week. Thought about going with an entirely new site, decided to revamp and dress up the old site, primarily with some flash and of course this blog.

Children

Still testing blog, a wonderful session with a beautiful baby, check our web site for more images here

Senior Images

An image from a recent senior shoot, see more here