Wiggins Photography Blog

Time Lapse Ballooning

2008-07-03T11:38:00.004-05:00

I shot this sequence in 2007 at the Balloon Glow at NorthPark Mall in Ridgeland, MS and at the Balloon event in Canton. The black and white images were created using my old (in the digital world!) Nikon D1x converted to infrared capture. For a larger version of some of these images check out our show here. Enjoy!

MC Prom Prep

2008-04-13T12:01:00.003-05:00

Had the opportunity to meet and photograph a great group of MC Prom Attendees as they met and dined at an MC parents home prior to leaving for their Prom. Also a great chance to try a new presentation, enjoy!

2008

2007-12-31T23:03:00.000-06:00

Another year wrapped, Jeni and I finished up the last of our weddings on Sat. A great busy year, we'll take off a few days, set up our booth at the Premier Bride shows in Jackson (TEL COM Center) and in Tupelo for the next two weekends and wrap up a few loose ends before the end of January. A great 2008 is ahead, Jeni and I wish to thanks all of our clients for a memorable 2007 and wish everyone a great and wonderful 2008. Check back often, since I now have a few minutes to breathe we'll update our site some more. Happy New Year from Wiggins Photography to all in Mississippi and the rest of the world!

Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T09:09:00.000-06:00

As Jeni and I take a few moments off from the hustle and hurry of this Holiday Season this morning, we snuggle on the couch with Kaitie and Eric and watch the Macys parade and enjoy a little family time. I realize that we do have a lot to be thankful for, sometimes we forget as the hours and days blur together with the stress of business life. I wanted to take a few quick minutes and thank all of our clients from this year and wish everyone the best! May you have the time you need this season, whether its surrounded by family or a few moments of quite time, all the best from Wiggins Photography.

Seasonal Sessions

2007-10-26T06:59:00.000-05:00

After another busy week, Jeni and I have put the final touches on our Seasonal Sessions. This year, Wiggins Photography will offer our 'a time for thanks' and 'a visit with santa' sessions as matted and framed art pieces as well as our cute image folios perfect for your purse or desk. Selected images from 'a visit with santa' sessions are hand worked in a style reminicent of The Saturday Evening Post, printed on fine art paper imported from Germany and signed. We will be using an old world, very rustic look with our 'a time for thanks' sessions, with each selected image hand worked and custom printed in order to achieve a distinct feel of times gone by. Our available sessions are very limited for 'a visit with santa', and will include a personalized snack from santa for our young visitors, an 6-8 image pocket folio for mom (or dad), and of course an heirloom print ready for display. Give Jeni a call today (601-853-3273) and reserve your session for this very special time of year.

New Presentations

2007-10-17T19:26:00.001-05:00

Another busy day. Almost all day behind the computer screen, between artwork for finished images preparing for printing and prepping new presentations for our updated site, of course thats Wiggins Photography. The three wedding related shows that went live are for our some of our vendor friends here in Mississippi (check out the work of Wiggins Photography at The Old Capitol Inn, at Dunleith in Natchez and a few of the cakes from That Special Touch. Jeni and I will be adding additional shows for our brides, select portrait sessions as well as the other vendors on our vendors page as we have time, now if we can just add about 10-15 hours to each day.........till next time

Site Updates

2007-10-12T21:34:00.000-05:00

A lot of you will have noticed that we have finally had the opportunity to begin the updates to our site (a very long process thats been a long time coming). Our Home page and Wedding page have both been updated, my goal is to get the final presentations complete in the next few weeks (easy enough to do, except we do have a few other thing going on!) Our Fall Harvest and Santa Sessions will be open for reserving sessions soon, more on that later. Our studio make over is almost complete, just a matter of one last wall to texture and paint, check back and keep looking for a slide show showcasing our home away from home. Till next time....

Undewater Bridal

2007-10-02T13:07:00.000-05:00

Lots of requests to see more of our underwater bridal images we did of Kim (yes, we had a blast and will be doing more). Kim is a great sport, though a little tired the next day, but these art images are well worth the effort. Jeni and I, the team at Wiggins Photography, hope you enjoy the artistry we create in our images.

back to School

2007-08-21T18:51:00.000-05:00

Finally back to somewhat of a routine, Patrick is back at college for his second year, called to let us know he did get first chair trumpet. Eric is settling in to his old school routine, and Kaitie is currently just enjoying life. (one moment...please). Ok back, Kaitie has just learned to play the kazoo and a concert was necessary. Since its been awhile, I'll slowly bring everybody up to date as to whats been going on. Just when Jeni and I felt like totaling pulling our hair out, my mom surprised us by retiring, selling her home and purchasing a home closer to us. She is now on the payroll, keeping Kaitie a couple of days a week (yes, I insisted we pay her). So for the last several months we have been slowly recovering our sanity, dusting off our plans and slowly getting back to running our studio instead of the other way around. Last year was our busiest year ever, and this year has thus far shaped up strong. We are booking weddings well into 2008, in-studio sessions are on the rise, and if I can just finish painting the studio.....keep checking back as new things are always happening at Wiggins Photography!

Drum Corps Finals

2007-08-11T19:33:00.000-05:00

OK Skip to 'Discipline Pays Off' and read it first, it makes more sense that way!

After being on pins and needles all day, Jeni and I have finally found scores for Memphis Sound. Even though they had a drop from their earlier scores, Sound was still able to pull in the gold for their division, by only 0.1 points. Great competition this year, and with the gold win, Memphis Sound will perform in exhibition in the Rose Bowl. Very proud of Patrick and his determination to reach this goal, as are his younger siblings who have been bouncing off the walls at the good news.

Discipline Pays Off

2007-08-11T06:46:00.000-05:00

First off, huge congratulations to Memphis Sound (they are the corp our oldest son has been marching with this summer). Semi-Finals in CA on Fri, the bus to transport the corp from their housing site to the competition field arrives late, then is stuck in traffic. Memphis Sound arrives at the competition site and sprint to the field from the parking lot. Warm up time....gone. Block up and march onto field....nope. At the moment the announcer is asking '...is your corp ready?' Sound is sprinting through the gate and onto the field, they must start their performance NOW or be penalized for exceeding their allotted time on the competition field. This is a moment this corp has been working towards since May (schedule), everydays in the heat to perfect the drill, countless miles between events, sleeping in the gym of gracious host schools around the country, everything they have worked so hard to achieve at risk due to a late bus and traffic. And they nail it. Fantastic performance, highest score of the season, still first in division going into finals today. And the precision march off the field? Sprint on Sprint off. 5 seconds to spare before a penalty is accessed. Drill, drill, then drill some more, know your drill so well you can perform in your sleep. Be in top physical condition so you can sprint from a parking lot to a performance with enough wind to nail that first note. Above all, have the character to stand strong with all the pressure and deliver! You did so,congratulations Memphis Sound!

Time to Start Anew

2007-08-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Its truly amazing how life can take a simple matter such as time and change it in a moment. Seems like only yesterday we were in Colorado with friends instead of a year ago. Have been so slammed with work at the studio, Jeni and I just don't seem to know which way is up here lately. Good news, school has once again begun, at least for one of ours, another starts next week and our oldest is....in CA? Patrick has been competing once again this year with Drum Corp (soprano, otherwise know as the trumpet), finals are this week and its starting to look as though Memphis Sound will take home the Div 3 national championship this year. We'll find out in a few hours. Working on a new update for the site, sessions, as well as countless custom album designs have really been taking their toll, wouldn't change for anything. Keep checking back as once again we share a little of us beyond the web.

Sun Rise Part 2

2006-11-18T21:48:00.000-06:00

As promised, another image from the session I mentioned yesterday. There is something about silhouettes that I love, they seem to find their way into my sessions on a somewhat frequent basis. I feel that there is such a strong emotional message in an image that contains the simple shape of your subject, be it animate or inanimate, especially when combined with a very clean background. Will use an image tomorrow from one of our sessions today (Jen has a tendency to load us down with sessions on those rare Saturdays that we aren't covering a wedding) that has a different twist on this concept. Speaking of Jen, she and the boys just got home from the symphony (I had the pleasure of watching Disney tapes with Kaitie) so I'll wrap this one up. See ya tomorrow.

Sun Rise

2006-11-17T18:08:00.000-06:00

So how do you create an image like this? Planning, a little luck, and a great couple willing to greet the sun when she(he) breaks the horizon. Scout the location for the best position and best times, set up the day of with headlights and flashlights (of course pray for perfect weather), wait in the chill for the right moment, then work like mad for the next few precious minutes to obtain the best images (always amazing how fast the sun 'moves' when close to the horizon). One of the best parts of what I do is when images become real, those that prior to being seen in print were only felt (course its also a blast!). Enjoyed this session so much, might just have to post a second image tomorrow, yeah I know...its called a tease....to get you to check back. See ya.

Infra-red

2006-11-16T18:58:00.000-06:00

One way I look at the world of photography today is like a trip to the hardware store and walking out with the biggest toolbox there. Lots of new tools available today and a lot of fun trying them out (of course you can have every tool in the world, but if you can't use a hammer and saw you simply can't build a house..ok soapbox over...for now!). With this rapidly changing array of tools, I simply have a hard time retiring one tool simply because a newer one becomes necessary. So what to do? Simple, create a new use for the old tool (I STILL use my old Nikon D1 at every wedding we cover, for detail images it still performs beautifully). Rather than retire my D1x, a little 'open camera surgery' and I now have a digital body that captures images in the infra-red spectrum. Having fun? Oh yeah! This image is one of our most recent and is from the wedding of Lacey and John, congrats again guys!

Definitely Tired.....

2006-11-15T21:10:00.000-06:00

....but oh what an image to wrap up with! Today was just as great and just as tiring as I thought it would be. Starting with a little 8 month old (great to see Katie again, and her little Maggie is so cute!), midday with CN railroad (one of our commercial clients) and end day with one of our brides and her new husband (thats Drew and Alice Chaney to the left). We see so many images in our minds eye during our events, love it when we can share those with everyone. Keep checking back as we continue to update our site, sharing our vision and skill with the world.

Deer, TSO and other stuff

2006-11-14T21:08:00.000-06:00

Let me take just a moment to collect my thoughts: working on new Wiggins Photography website using laptop (good idea) while watching House (not good idea). Hard to get a lot of work during commercials, controversial or not, very good writing. TSO, aka Trans-Siberian Orchestra delivered a great performance Sun night, all high energy and outstanding visuals. Collesium was, by all appearances, sold out, definately a great way to start the holiday season. Changing direction again, from Natchez to Ridgeland, a distance of about 86 miles, Jeni and I averaged 1 deer every 1.2 miles. An unbeliveable 73 (shattering our old count of 14) visable makes me wonder how many more were still just out of the light. Always amazing way to wrap up one of our weddings in Natchez is the road trip back up the Trace, quiet and slow, with the curiosity of just what we would see, but this time...simply amazing. Another late night for us today, however this one ended with Chinese takeout for dinner (and lunch tomorrow and most likely dinner tomorrow night, the servings from this place are huge) so thats always a good thing. Time to see what tomorrow will hold, with four sessions already on the books and adding a short commercial job to that, I've got a feeling I'll be wrung out tomorrow night. Time to wrap this one up.

Where in the world....

2006-11-13T19:16:00.000-06:00

...does time go? So we take a vacation this year, first time in 7 years that we have been able to get away. Have a great time (big THANKS to the Nelson clan in CO), come back, shoot a great wedding and BANG, we are hit with not only the backlog of work (say it with me 'Vacations really ARE relaxing, its the return that kills you') but also new work on top (actually a great problem to have). before we know it, months (ok, I acknowledged the fact, whew!) have gone by without an update to either of our blogs. Time to correct that (besides, I have months (gets easier every time I say that) of things to say). So what starts this off tonight, besides a new Mac at the house to replace our aging system? Eric is practising his trumpet for his first concert in a few weeks, Kaitie runs in, dressed and ready for bed, grinning from ear to ear, holding her pink bunny. After the third attempt (grinning so big she can barely talk) I finally understand her request to call her Kaitlyn (not Kaitie). Turns out she found out tonight that her REAL name is Kaitlyn (guess we've just been lazy the last four years) and is proud as can be. Something this big simply must be shared, ranks right up there with her version of 'Drift Away'. So much to get caught up on. Jen and I are driving home one evening when Dobie Grays rendition starts to play. From the back seat we hear this little 4 year old voice singing right along '...oh ain't it a shame oh give me a beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n roll and drift away...'. All Jeni and I can do is stare at each other for a second before we totally crack up (keeping my eyes on the road of course, hands at 10 and 2). As difficult as the last few years have been, this little girl continues to be a huge blessing. With Patrick doing very well in college (looks like first semester will wrap up with a 4.0, now with a possible change from Southern Miss to Ole Miss in two years) and Eric taking on the challenges of 6th grade, we are actually getting into a somewhat normal lifestyle (for us that means early to late 6 days and only a handful on the 7th). Check back with us, I intend to update our mobile blog as well as this one a much more regular schedule like the performance Patrick and I saw last night (if you don't know what TSO stands for, now you have to check back) or the number of 4 legged animals Jeni and I counted on the way back from our Natchez wedding (I don't mean cows or horses either or skunks, actually they were deer) (congrats to Courtney and Andy, great time guys). Yet another update to our site is on its way, changes to some of the browsers out there forced us to move a little earlier on this as well. Anyway, time for a little relaxing before we call this one a day, see you tomorrow.

Equipment

2006-06-09T21:38:00.000-05:00

Well, this has been the week for using the technical side of my thought process. Picked up a replacement phone this week, my cell was lost (translation:stolen) two weeks ago, finally had time to get by our local (as in the closest distributor to the studio, across the highway) and pick up another one. Oh the joy of reloading all of my contacts names, emails ect!! Our proofing printer decided to go on the fritz (you know, display reads 'error code ###,###,###,##### call service), a quick call to service only to find the hour/hour and half for service will run appx $500 plus parts since we are now out of warrenty. Sounded like time for Plan B, also know as 'research time'. Internet plus google equals tech specs for printer with detailed description of error codes. Repeat search with error description paramenters yields source for parts which arrive in a few days. A short repair time later and printer is back in business. Ten minutes of research, $30 worth of parts, working printer. Not bad. Of course the week wasn't over yet, a Firewire card went out on one of our PCs (course on a PC thats actually a 'ieee 1394' card) so a quick trip to CompUsa for a replacement, pop out the old, pop in the new, power up and our Dual-Terrabyte storage tower is back on the network. A final prep of cameras, CF cards and all of our other gear for tomorrows wedding and I can call it a week. Looking forward to doing one of the things we do best on Sat, documenting the day for a great couple like Brandi and Meko is going to be a blast!

9 Hours in 60 Seconds

2006-05-26T19:35:00.000-05:00

Every RHS GradNight 2006 attendee will receive a DVD with the 'Then and Now' slideshow (growing up pics) as well as a slideshow from the night itself with images by, yep, Wiggins Photography! Thought I would put together a little teaser with 74 images that runs the night from the initial slideshow at Millsaps College (thanks MC for your great hosipitality!) to food and karaoke at The Stone Pony to all types of fun at The Park, and a wrap-up at The Res. So, for the RHS 2006 Graduates (and everyone else) select play and Hang On!

Sometimes...

2006-05-25T18:49:00.000-05:00

As an artist/photographer, I am always on the look for the light and composition for the image that will tell the story of what happened. Sometimes you have to look high/low/upside-down/inside-out to find the perfect image. Sometimes the image is handed to you on a silver platter. This is one of the last images I captured the night/morning of RHS 2006 Graduation/Grad Night. Most of the tired seniors had left for home for a bit of much deserved rest, while a few walked to the edge of the reservoir just as the sun began his daily arrival. With the crescent moon high in the sky, Mars just visible as a pinpoint of light, and the sun poised to break the horizon, the symbolism of new graduates looking toward a bright, yet still to be seen, future was presented to me on just such a platter. A quiet and humble 'Thanks' at being allowed to witness yet another event as I too, wrapped the night. Congratulations from Wiggins Photography to every member of each Class of 2006, with a special thought to the Ridgeland High School 2006 Gratuates.

Awake

2006-05-24T21:14:00.000-05:00

Well, somewhat awake (actually we've been up since 5 this morning, but thinking otherwise makes me feel better). Grad Night was great! Graduation at 7, congratulations all around, change clothes and load the charter buses by 9. Police escorts to keep everybody together (buses and assorted support vehicles) and an overall trip of appx 90 miles made for a full and fun night! A big screen presentation of parent-supplied photos (nothing like potentially embarrassing images to bring the house down), followed by several hours of food and karaoke (ignore any rumors concerning a finale of YMCA featuring a parent, coach, police officer and photographer; any photos that surface will have obviously been photoshopped), more hours at the go-cart/putt-putt/ice-skate/laser-tag park with caricature artists thrown in, and finish up at the reservoir where several of us watched the sun come up (I'll post that image tomorrow). Great way to wrap up Patrick's senior year (course he has Senior trip to Fla next week). Jeni and I had just enough time to get home, get Eric on the bus for school, Kaitie to her school and make it to Eric's school for the moving-to-the-next-school ceremony. Pick up Kaitie and finally get back home and some sleep by early afternoon, these 36 hour shifts are still a piece of cake, the recovery (for some reason) seems to take a little longer. A few sessions today to ease back in, and a quick trip to Amtrak to pick up tickets for our first all-five-of-us family vacation wrapped up the day on a good note (have to admit, glad to see Taylor Hicks pick up AI, someone with such a heart and passion behind what he does is great). Check back later for images from Grad Night 2006 RHS style (by who else, Wiggins Photography!)

Busy Weekend Approaches

2006-05-19T20:57:00.000-05:00

The amusing part of this post, as I look at the title, is that this weekend is not that much different than most. With a two wedding weekend early this month and a two wedding weekend next week, this one is almost refreshing (as much as Jeni and I love the excitement and emotional ride that weddings are, we are still pretty wrung out at the end of one of our doubles). With a wedding Saturday, unpacking Sunday and backing up Saturday's wedding, graduation practice, cap & gown portraits, graduation and grad night Monday/Tuesday, we'll be lucky to get 15 hours sleep from Sat morning until Tuesday afternoon. One thing is always certain at Wiggins Photography, we are never at a loss for something to do! As Kaitie continues to gain her independence (suddenly, at 3.5 years old, she doesn't need any help at anything) we can once again slowly begin the growth of Wiggins Photography. So, everything considered, this summer is shaping up to be a major time of growth and accomplishment to the point that we, as a family, will actually be able to take a vacation and recover a bit mentally as well. Looking forward to that!

Senior Recognition at RHS

2006-05-12T19:43:00.000-05:00

Today, Jeni and I sat and watched the senior class of 2006 be recognized for their individual accomplishments and receive their scholarships. Among those recognized was our oldest son Patrick. Amazing. What seems a few short years ago, I sat alone in the auditorium of my high school, the acoustics so good and the quiet so real I could hear the second hand move its way around the face on the wall clock. My own graduation approaching, thoughts about the future I faced and the address I would make certainly occupied my thoughts. The slow tick, in perfect sync to the second is as loud to me now as it was then, and just as relentless. A half-hearted attempt using non-existent skills made popular by a certain cinematic trilogy only proved what I already knew, time will stand still for no one and no reason. Fast forward to today where, in 9 days, Patrick will accept his diploma and begin the next stage of this education we call life. At once such a short time has passed, yet in that time so many changes. When we moved to MS from Texas, Patrick started kindergarten in the only school located in Ridgeland, the middle and upper schools located in and shared with our neighboring city of Madison. Twelve short years later, Ridgeland has four schools and Patrick's class has the distinction of being the first to leave each old school and enter a new one, each one finished just in time to accommodate the advancing students. Such a short time, and such a seemingly long time as Jeni and I recognize the fact that we will be watching two more recognition ceremonies. Eric will be sitting in front of us in six years and Kaitie will take her place seven years after that. The fifteen years that seems like such a long time now will most likely be reflected upon in a manner similar to this one, a time of reflection mixed with moments of sadness and pride. Patrick leaves the top performing Titan Band, a proud founding member of a group to receive only superior ratings since its beginning, a group that marched 85 per cent freshman its first year, yet took overall third in regional competition. Patrick graduates, and Eric steps into the 6th grade band, chosen to play the same instrument as Patrick, Kaitie was only 10 days old at her first band competition and is already irrevocably hooked. Such a short time, such a lifetime. Congratulations Patrick, we are very proud of the person you have become.

The Spirit Counts

2006-05-04T21:33:00.000-05:00

Start with a small, intimate ceremony taking place at a well-respected restaurant located in an up-scale shopping area. Mix in with a very-much-in love bride and groom, where the bride just happens to be the pastry chef at the before-mentioned restaurant (did I mention Dani's long family history in the restaurant business?). Now imagine just how much I enjoyed the celebration between Dani and Sean, the emotion, the challenge of a different type of venue to photograph in and around, and the first class presentation of wonderful cuisine (normally we don't eat at our weddings, but this time...). Thanks Dani and Sean for a wonderful time, your wedding will always be a favorite at Wiggins Photography.