The Original Wedding Expo - Sturbridge, MA - Wedding Photography and Videography!

New England BRIDES - For us, your wedding day is a really BIG DEAL!
So, come visit our booth this Sunday in Sturbridge because for you, we have a REALLY BIG DEAL! You can save over $1,600. when you book with us at the expo!

We are pulling out all the stops this year! We love weddings, we love meeting new couples and helping them create images that they'll cherish forever! We love offering incentives to clients who book with us!

This Sunday, September 19th, come to the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center in Sturbridge, MA and visit our booth at The Original Wedding Expo.

We have WEDDING EXPO ONLY pricing, plus we are throwing in a bunch of BOOK EARLY FREEBIES if you book your wedding photography with us during our limited time offer.
You can save over $1,600 in products and services! Special bundle pricing when you choose our photography and videography services combined.

It's just our way of proving to you that, for us, your wedding day is a really BIG DEAL!

Discover why more and more New England Brides each year have been raving about our Professional, Personalized, Fun and Unique wedding photography and videography services!

Discover our client discount program which saves you money on all of your future professional photography services with us...Forever!

Book your wedding photography with us and..."Discover the beauty in your world."

See you at the EXPO!

For more info, please visit: www.originalweddingexpo.com

DIVA NIGHT! (Ladies Night)

Diaz Digital Discoveries presents:  DIVA NIGHT!

Who: YOU (Age 18 & older please)


What: FREE PHOTOS

When: FRIDAY AUGUST, 27, 2010 5PM - 8PM

Where: DIAZ DIGITAL DISCOVERIES STUDIO

38 DUDLEY RD. OXFORD, MA

...Why: WHY NOT!?


LADIES, if you missed our last event, you won't want to miss this one!

Going out on Friday night the 27th of August?

Well, get yourself dressed up, but before you go out, stop in to our studio and get yourself glammed up by a professional makeup artist. Then we'll capture a few images of you looking your best and post them on facebook.

THEN, THE NIGHT IS YOURS!
Jeanne Sincerbeaux of THE PERFECT LOOK (www.theperfectlookonline.com) will be in our studio to make sure you look your best! She will be offering tips, answering questions and available to transform you and make you DIVALICIOUS for your night on the town.
Start your weekend off right by looking your absolute best with the help of Jeanne and let us capture that look for you FREE. We'll be posting your image on your facebook profile...yeah...you know it's time for a new profile pic!  Well, this one is not only FREE, it's made by TWO professionals!  Professional Makeup and Professional Photography = One Amazing YOU!
Don't have plans for that evening? Then stick around and spend your evening with us. It's sure to be a blast! It always is! We're always good for a few laughs...especially on a Friday night! :-) Stop in and unwind with us for awhile. You'll be glad you did. :-)
Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be available as well.
You provide the Outfit...we'll provide the WOW!
Please R.S.V.P. to this event  on our Facebook Page (Diaz Digital Discoveries) if you are planning to attend.
Thank you ladies and see you here!

Digital Camera Tips - How to Hold a Digital Camera

Hello Blog fans.

This week I want to share with you an article I found on How to correctly hold a digital camera.
If you are having troubles with your images being blurry, you may not be holding your camera correctly.
Perhaps these tips will help you get better images.  Enjoy!


Digital Camera Tips - How to Hold a Digital Camera


By Joan Yankowitz

When taking photographs, one of the most common causes of ruined pictures is a shaky camera, which leads to blurred images. One of the reasons for camera shake is the propensity to hold a digital camera at arms length, which does not offer stability.
In addition, due to the lightweight nature of digital cameras, you may attempt to take a shot with just one hand. Of course, this gives you flexibility and may allow you to frame the shot better, but you will find that your hands are likely to shake or sway as you're taking the picture.
If you want to ensure that your memories are not ruined by blurring, it is imperative that you are able to hold the camera still. Although this may seem like a fairly simple task, it is surprisingly difficult with some of the small modern cameras.
The following digital camera tips will teach you how to hold the camera and avoid unnecessary blurring.
First, grasp the right side of the camera in your right hand. Ensure that your forefinger is placed lightly along the top of the camera, while your other three fingers grasp the front and your thumb presses against the back. Some cameras will have grip indentations, so it is clear where to place your fingers. Make sure that you are holding the camera firmly, but not gripping too tightly.
Meanwhile, the position of your left hand will depend on the style of camera. In most cases, it is wise to use the left hand to steady the camera from underneath. If you have a DSLR, then the left hand may be used to hold the lens and support the weight of the camera in this way.
When using a viewfinder, it is easier to hold the camera steady, as it will be close to your body. However, if you prefer to use the LCD screen, try to ensure that you're not holding the camera too far away from you. Holding it at arms length will not provide a steady grip. Instead, try bending your arms and keep your elbows tucked into your sides, then hold the camera out in front of you; 12 inches or so away from your face.
Ensure that you have a stable stance by standing with your feet shoulder width apart. If possible, it is helpful to steady yourself by leaning against a solid object, such as a wall or tree. Alternatively, you may prefer to kneel or sit down. Bear in mind, the stiller your body, the stiller the camera will be.
If you are still finding it difficult to get clear shots, you may want to invest in a tripod. These come in a variety of styles and vary dramatically in price. If you feel that carrying a tripod around would be too cumbersome, you may want to look at some of the more expensive, compact tripods, which can be folded to fit in a pocket. There are, of course, many other digital camera tips, but these basic hints on holding a camera are the first steps to taking better pictures.
You can easily grab our handy FREE Top Digital Photography Questions Guide, which will help you with many of your digital photography questions. Just Click Here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joan_Yankowitz

Tokens to Give Guests When You Have a Summer Theme

Tokens to Give Guests When You Have the Summer Theme


By Harrison Fray
 
Wedding guests are now expecting to receive wedding tokens each time they attend a wedding. Tradition dictates the giving of wedding favors for all guests during the wedding reception. It is now important to give a special attention to this part of the wedding event since people are looking forward to receiving one. Carry out the wedding favors from the theme chosen for the wedding. After the wedding, it is pertinent that guests leave the party with something to bring home as a remembrance of your wedding. Distributed wedding tokens are something that matches the bride or the groom's personalities.




Classic colors are very in for summer time themed weddings like sky blue, yellow, yellow green, pink, and lavender. You can choose a different color for summer like peach, teal, and green for the summer wedding theme. Wedding tokens should also come to mind after thinking about your wedding dresses, invitations and flowers Consider the following ideas for your summer theme tokens:



Blooming flowers and season is summer time. The blossoming flower is like the love felt during summer. Summer is a celebration of gallant and bright colors and this is made possible by many flowers. The ambiance will be much more summer themed if you match the wedding token designs with the summer colors you have chosen for the other decorations such as the centerpieces or the backdrop.



Aside from the flowers, try adding fresh fruits in small baskets, thus serving as your wedding tokens as well as centerpieces. You can also do away with mangoes, strawberries, pineapple and peaches. Find anything that can be displayed like ceramics if there is no more time to get the fruits for the party.



Design the tokens with a nature feel, put flowers and birds if possible. There are candles that have the summer scent, you may get one with flower designs or any bird designs for your tokens. Cutomize the candle holders with your initials or names and the date of the wedding. Look for candle holders that can bear your name to customize your wedding candle favors. Add the theme in all the things you use for the wedding. The centerpieces are quite hefty to prepare, if you do not have enough time, then just use summer themed napkins instead.



Make your wedding as fun as it can be with summer theme and make the day very colorful and festive with fruits and other decors.



Harrison Fray is a a guru at a variety of nuptials and mediation matters. He will help you to pick out the best in groomsmen gift with signature style. Harrison can certainly assist you with selecting the proper bridesmaid gifts also. Stop by Engraved Gift Creations to determine what Harrison recommends.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harrison_Fray

Elegant Wedding Dresses - Look As Special on Your Special Day As You Ever Dreamed To

Hello Blog fans.

This week I have an article to share with you about finding the perfect wedding dress.
This article comes from Mary R. Trotter and may give you some ideas on how to add a little elegance to your wedding dress.  Enjoy!


Elegant Wedding Dresses - Look As Special on Your Special Day As You Ever Dreamed To


By Mary R Trotter
 
It is a dream of every girl to look perfect on her wedding day. It is a special day in her life and she wishes to look no less than a princess or a fairy; this is why the largest part of the wedding budget is always reserved for the bridal dress. Wedding dresses are available in many different styles and designs but the bride always wishes to pick the one which is unique and beautiful, something that no other bride has ever worn before. Elegant wedding dresses can be difficult to pick if you do not have a proper guidance, but if there is someone to show you the right direction, then you can surely succeed in buying the kind of dress you have ever dreamed of.
On your special day, look as special as you have ever dreamed to by following the tips below at the time of your wedding dress purchase:
Material
Check the material of the wedding dress you have decided to buy. It is important to see the material because if your chosen dress is made of silk or satin, it has to be high quality satin or silk. Those dresses which are made of low quality satin or silk do not give shine, so they do not look new. In order to make sure that your wedding pictures are perfect, choose your wedding gown which is made of high quality materials.
Design
In order to look unique and different, you can choose the dress which has either been designed by a professional wedding designer, exclusively for you or if that does not fit your budget, go for a dress which is less expensive and add some alterations to it. The question which must have occurred to you now should be that what could be done to personalize the wedding dress. It is quite simple to personalize your wedding gown in order to make it stand out and different from anything anyone would have ever seen before. To personalize, you can add a touch of some other color with white. For instance, blue can be added as it stands for purity and sacredness.
Accessories
Do not forget to pick your matching accessories with the wedding dress. These accessories can include small pouches that can be hung down your wrists, veils, headbands and tiaras.
Floral Touch
The bouquet you hold on your special day is one way of adding something floral to your wedding dress; apart from this you can also decorate your dress by adorning an artificial flower somewhere on the front or side of the dress. Floral touch will make you look chic and unique.
You can read more reviews at elegantweddingdresses.org, If you want to buy short bridesmaid dresses, you can read reviews at my website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_R_Trotter

The Important Bridesmaid Gift

The Important Bridesmaid Gift


By Mary Hugh O Calderon
 
Quite a few brides admit that their wedding will not be feasible with out the aid of their bridesmaids. Bridesmaids might be the bride's best friends or female relatives. They may be an integral part with the wedding event organizing, they're the ones who throw the bridal shower, bachelorette party and relax the bride if she is having a melt down. Furthermore, they also stand beside the bride when she says those life changing vows.




So it is just fitting to give back to your bridesmaids by presenting every 1 of them a distinctive bridesmaid gift that suits their personalities. Giving a bridesmaid surprise has turn out to be a wedding tradition that has been practice by the bride and groom for hundred of years.



A bride will normally give presents to her bridesmaids as a sign of gratitude for being an integral portion of her existence and attending her big day. It can be equivalent towards the groomsmen presents that the groom gives to his best buddies.



Whichever bridesmaid surprise ideas you happen to be searching for, here's a hint, you can give exclusive bridesmaid gifts which is usually personalized or a gift that's individual to that persons likes or dislikes, so you greater choose the ideal bridesmaid presents available.



Even so, if you are short on cash, you are able to still give them a bridesmaid gift that they will probably be appreciated. You'll find inexpensive and low-cost bridesmaid gifts that don't appear 'cheap' at all. It's important though that you consider every single bridesmaids preference ahead of you dash into the nearest store.



Each and every bride wants to offer the appropriate bridesmaids presents, but it may be quite challenging since every bridesmaid may have several personalities and tastes. For your businesswoman bridesmaid, a company card holder may possibly be an appropriate present. Alternatively, if your bridesmaids are young, hip and fashionistas, you may possibly would like to contemplate giving them just about every some type of cosmetic make up bag, silk purse, lipstick case, a compact, a silk pouches, terry cloth spa slippers or even a travel mug. You can even have them personalized by getting their names embroidered and even engraved on anything you opt for to offer them.



Bridal jewelry is undoubtedly a great alternative for your bridesmaid's gifts. You could select a necklace and earring set that they can truly wear on your wedding day.



However, if your bridesmaids have the same interests, like yoga or cooking, you possibly can sign them up for a class. In addition,, you'll be able to also treat your girls to a spa day before your wedding. I bet they'll love it!



The quest for the best bridesmaid gifts can be exhausting but inside the end it will all be worth the cost, specially once you see their delighted faces whenever you present them their unique gifts.



Discover the perfect world of wedding and bridal ideas and accessories that will help you get all of your tasks done with just a few clicks of the mouse. Visit the Wedding Favors and Accessories site.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Hugh_O_Calderon

DIAZ DIGITAL DISCOVERIES - SEXY VOICE CONTEST WINNERS!

Hello Blog fans!

Our sexy voice contest was a great success! Thanks to all of the people who called in to enter.
I think it's funny that all of the entrants were females.  Coincidence?  I'm not sure.  I had wondered during the contest if any men were going to enter, since it was anyones contest to win, and not a single male entry.  I guess that means that only women have sexy voices?  Huh!  :-)

Anyway...I had no idea when starting the contest how difficult it was going to be to choose!  All of the entrants were certainly eligible to win First Prize and the standings order had changed very quickly in just a matter of an hour each day during the week.

It was fun listening to all the callers who left their entry on our voice recorder...along with other information as well...but the only thing that counted for the contest were the specific rules, to keep everything fair.

Here is a recap of the rules and the prizes:


(previously posted)
Please note that we will only accept your voice on the recorder, so you must call during the allotted times only and leave your voice recording to enter. We will judge from all of the sexy voices entered during both weeks and choose the top 3 to win, First prize, Second prize and Third prize. All entrants will be updated on the running via our Facebook fan page until the winner is announced on June 28th.
First Prize winner will have their sexy voice used in our upcoming promotion which will be broadcast to the public (this could be your claim to fame)! Sexy voice credit will be listed in our promos. Winner will also receive a fun, Free Studio fashion photo session and an 11x14 portrait of their choice from that session. ($250 value) Fashion photo may possibly be used in conjunction with same promo as well.
Second prize will win a $100 Gift Card from our studio and be mentioned in our social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Linked-in).
Third prize wins a $50 Gift Card from our studio and be mentioned in our social media sites.
Misc:

Gift Cards never expire.

All winners will be notified by phone and listed on our social media sites.

Top winner must sign a release to allow use of photo/voice for our promo purposes.

Top winner must agree to visit our studio in Oxford, MA to have their voice professionally recorded live for our upcoming promotion and agree to allow us to use the recording. (Specific details, terms and conditions will be given to the top winner)

By entering our sexy voice contest you agree to allow us to share your first name and city with our social media friends, fans and followers.

Other conditions/rules may apply.


 
So with no further delay here are the winners!
 
3rd:  Maria Brown.  Anyone having the opportunity to hear Maria's voice, will agree with me that she could read the phone book and make it sound like a fairytale novel!  When I first heard her voice, I took in a big sigh and thought she was already the winner.  Thank you Maria so very much! Maria wins a $50 Diaz Digital Discoveries Gift Card.
 
2nd:  Jayne Antos.  Jayne has the type of voice that would be great for those movies...you know...THOSE MOVIES!  The ones where there's a female computer voice. (What were you thinking!?)  The computer voice is counting down the ship's self-destruct sequence in a sexy tone.  The bad news is your about to die.  The good news is that the last thing you get to hear is a sexy female voice. :-)  Jayne came very close to winning, as she called several times and had multiple entries and I am a huge fan of sci-fi and female computer voices!  LOL.  Thank you for entering Jayne!  Jayne wins a $100. Gift Card From us.
 
1st: Joanna Aviles.  Now Joanna...all I can say is... WOW!  Joanna's voice has it all.  Soft-spoken, sweet, tender and just what we were looking for in our upcoming promotion.  I can't wait to share what it is, but as it is still in the planning stages, we can't divulge anything yet.  Just know that Joanna's voice will be featured saying our tag line "Discover the beauty in your world."  Thank you Joanna for entering, calling in faithfully and congratulations on winning our contest!  We will be contacting you soon to make arrangement for you to come to our studio.
 
Joanna wins a Free Fashion Photoshoot at our studio and an 11x14 portrait of her choice from the shoot, plus her voice will be featured in some of our upcoming promos.
 
Stay in the know with what's happening at our studio!  For updated information on what's happening, subscribe to this blog and never miss a blog entry, promo or special deal.  We post samples of our work from recent jobs, wedding tips, photography tips, studio special discounts, contests and much more.  Thanks for being with us!
 
Until next time...(enter Joanna's voice)  "Discover the beauty in your world." :-)

Gina Mandella Dance Studio, Picture Day Photos 2010

We had the honor and pleasure to photograph the Gina Mandella Dance Studio Picture Day Event again this year.  We have enjoyed Picture Day for several years now and this year was no exception.

I must say, it's wonderful to see all these kids growing up and developing their dance skills more and more each year.  I am also glad to be able to say that my own daughter is now a part of this wonderful dance studio.  I'm already looking forward to Picture Day 2012.

Below is the link to access the Picture Day image gallery.

If prompted, enter the Username:  GMDS 2010

The password is:  20405

Sign in with your e-mail address to view the images.

Enjoy!

Wedding Vows - How to Write Your Own Wedding Vows

Hello Blog fans!
This week I have a really great article to share with you all on writing your own wedding vows.  It comes from an expert (wedding officiant - Glenn Feguson at Wedding Bahamas Style)

If you are thinking about writing your own vows, read the article below first for some great tips!


Wedding Vows - How to Write Your Own Wedding Vows


By Glenn Ferguson
 
As a wedding officiant, I help persons of different faiths and varied life experiences in personalizing the wedding ceremony that is right for their special day - and whether your choice is formal and traditional or contemporary and casual your wedding vows makes the day memorable not only for you but for your guest as well.



And while you get to choose from a variety of wedding vows incorporating your own traditions and preferences, more and more couples are opting to write their own vows.


So if that is your desire here are some tips for you on writing your own wedding vows.


The first bit of advice to you is that while you want your wedding vows to be meaningful you also want to be as concise as possible. By keeping your vows concise, you avoid overloading it with redundant and meaningless word which distracts from your intention and overwhelm your guest. A short ceremony is always better and I promise, you will get lots of complements from your guest.

Secondly, be sure to allow your wedding officiant or minister to review and edit your vows. It will certainly help with the quality and completeness of the vows.


Let your feeling show. Your wedding ceremony is the time to let your feeling show as you are declaring to the world your love for each other. So do not be afraid to express your feeling in your wedding vows. The good thing is that you can say anything that you want to say, that is fitting for your relationship and wedding ceremony as long as you both agree to be married somewhere in the wedding vows.

Review what others have done. We all need some inspiration so feel free to look at what other couples have done and you will be surprised by how closely your feeling relates to others. You can also get lots of insights from wedding poems and songs.

Finally, while you can chose to write your wedding vows together or apart. I recommend that you do it together as it will give you an added opportunity to bond, so get together. And be sure to have plenty of facial napkins as I promise you, there will be lots of emotions!


Glenn S. Ferguson, your Bahamas Wedding Officiant at Wedding Bahamas Style - Helping You To Create Your Memorable Bahamas Wedding. Just call 1-242-327-2453 or email nuptialpreacha@gmail.com or glennsferguson@gmail.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glenn_Ferguson

DIAZ DIGITAL DISCOVERIES - SEXY VOICE CONTEST - STANDINGS

HELLO BLOG FANS!

What an exciting and fun week this has been with all the really great entries we got for our sexy voice contest!  There were quite a few that were really close and tough to choose between.

After week 1, here are the top three entrants, in order:

First place:  Joanna A.
Second Place: Maria B (wow, very sexy indeed)
Third Place:  Jayne A.

These three will move on to week 2 (final week) where they will be competing against each other and any new entrants.  Anyone still has the chance to win!  So, make sure when you call to read our tag line, you are using your sexiest voice!  Only one person will win and there's only one week left.

Do you know someone who has a sexy voice?  Let them know about our sexy voice contest and they can win a free fashion photo shoot, along with other prizes!

The last day to enter is this Friday June 25th between the hours of 3pm and 4pm.

The winner will be chosen this weekend and notified by phone/e-mail/facebook and posted on this blog.

It's time to turn up the heat and get your SEXY on!  Enter this week for you chance to win.
Reminder, when you call: 508-216-5898 Monday - Friday between 3p & 4p only, leave your full name, phone number and then (in your sexiest voice) say:  "DISCOVER THE BEAUTY IN YOUR WORLD."

Good luck to everyone and thanks for entering!

Stay Tuned for the results!

Wedding Photographer's Anthem

SING ALONG!

DIAZ DIGITAL DISCOVERIES - SEXY VOICE CONTEST!

Hello Blog fans.

Do you have a sexy voice?  If you do, you could win our Sexy Voice contest!
We are looking to Discover the person with the sexiest voice for one of our upcoming promotions.
If you are the winner, you might even be...well...Discovered! 
We will be picking the top 3 sexiest voices to win prizes. Enter starting this Monday to win!
Everyone has a chance to win, so have some fun with this!  Give it a try!  Enter to win!


Here is the information on our Sexy Voice contest:

Starting on Monday June 14, 2010  and ending on Friday June 25th you may call our number listed below and leave your "sexy voice" on our recorder.  You can enter as many times as you wish but only once per day. To make it fair for all, you will need to follow these specific instructions:

1. Call  508-216-5898 between 3pm & 4pm only from Monday June 14th thru Friday June 18th, then again from Monday June 21st thru Friday June 25th.

2. Tell us your full name and leave a phone number where we can reach you. (no sexy voice needed for this part)

3. In your Sexiest Voice, you must say:  "Discover the beauty in your world."

Please note that we will only accept your voice on the recorder, so you must call during the alloted times only and leave your voice recording to enter. We will judge from all of the sexy voices entered during both weeks and choose the top 3 to win, First prize, Second prize and Third prize.  All entrants will be updated on the running via our Facebook fan page until the winner is announced on June 28th.

First Prize winner will have their sexy voice used in our upcoming promotion which will be broadcasted to the public (this could be your claim to fame)!  Sexy voice credit will be listed in our promos.  Winner will also receive a fun, Free Studio fashion photo session and an 11x14 portrait of their choice from that session. ($250 value) Fashion photo may possibly be used in conjunction with same promo as well.

Second prize will win a $100 Gift Card from our studio and be mentioned in our social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Linked-in).

Third prize wins a $50 Gift Card from our studio and be mentioned in our social media sites.

Misc:
Gift Cards never expire.
All winners will be notified by phone and listed on our social media sites.
Top winner must sign a release to allow use of photo/voice for our promo purposes.
Top winner must agree to visit our studio in Oxford, MA to have their voice professionally recorded live for our upcoming promotion and agree to allow us to use the recording. (Specific details, terms and conditions will be given to the top winner)
By entering our sexy voice contest you agree to allow us to share your first name and city with our social media friends, fans and followers.
Other conditions/rules may apply.

HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!

DISCOVER THE SEXINESS OF YOUR VOICE!

Wedding Photography, Takes or Outtakes?

Was it something I said?  You better believe it was!

One of my favorite parts of photographing a wedding is making the images of the bride and groom alone.  I like getting the bride and groom some alone time after the ceremony and before the reception so they can relax a bit, calm their nerves and enjoy each other's company, before it's time to get going to the reception.  While, I love a good party as much as anyone else, the more time I have with the couple alone, the more great images I can create.

I love to interact with the couple during these formal photos and create some real time images that show the emotion and the fun they are both having.  Since the wedding day goes by so fast, my goal is to make images that will remind them of how much fun they had that day, every time they look at the images, again and again.

We create a mixture of images with all the different feelings of the day.  For instance...  This image series from a recent wedding has something for everyone.  Which one of these three images is the Outtake?  That depends on who you are.  Everyone has a different favorite and we are able to photograph your wedding the way you want to remember it.


If you are a ROMANTIC and want to show that in your images, then you may like this one:

If you are HAPPY-GO-LUCKY and you want your images to reflect that, then this one may be for you:

If you are all about having FUN and LAUGHING and that is how you want to remember it, then you may like this one:

Or, if you are like me, you love them all!  

So which one is the outtake?  For me, none of them.  You pick your own favorite.

No matter what you want your photographs to reflect about your wedding day, you can count on us!  We can do it all as you can see from these images.  Now, go tell your friends!!!

If you know someone who's getting married and would love a wide range of images that show who they are, capture the essence of their day and show how much they enjoyed their wedding celebration, ask them to contact us. www.DiazDD.com


We love to photograph weddings...and it shows!

"Discover the beauty in your world."

High School Senior Portrait Photographer Worcester. Class of 2011 Senior Portraits

Congratulations to the Class of 2010 High School Seniors!  Best wishes!

Now, to the Class of 2011 it's that time of year to book your High School Senior Portraits before we get too busy.  We love this time of year and we get lots of new great seniors-to-be that come to us because they love our images, ideas and they love that we switch things up a bit each year.

This year is all about Fashion.  With the many T.V. shows on nowadays all heavily concentrating on fashion/models we have decided to add a new service to our existing senior portrait services. 

We are calling it the Senior Style Session.  What is it?  Well It's when we take one of our regular senior portrait sessions and use fashion lighting setups and our creativity to glam-it-up!

So far we have had a great response to this new service and the word is spreading quickly about this special session we are offering.  Be one of the first seniors to have your Senior Style Session with us!

If you know of someone who is in the Class of 2011 that needs to have their Senior Pics done, tell them about our Senior Style Session.  They will be so glad you did.

Right now, we are booking sessions for the month of July and August.  We also have special bonuses and freebies for those seniors who book and pay for their session in June, even if they won't have their sessions until July/August, they still qualify for the special bonus and freebies.

Seniors, this is your year to shine!  The year YOU make contact.

Make an impression!  A fashionable impression.

Book your Senior Style Session with us now and save!

Contact us at: 508-216-5898 or e-mail  info@DiazDD.com  for more information on our

senior portrait photography sessions and packages.

We also offer our Senior Style Sessions and regular sessions on location for those who enjoy the outdoors

and would rather not be in an indoor studio for their senior portraits.

Before your session, we will consult with you on picking a location, what the best outfits are for you to wear, what's the best time of day to schedule a session, as well as what type of session you would like to have and how to prepare for that session.

Our outdoor and on location sessions really add to the beauty of your portraits.

 

Contact us to book you session today!

508-216-5898

info@DiazDD.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2011!

Facebook Fridays Are Here!

Hello friends and fans.

I'm really excited to tell you about our new offers! 

Starting today and every Friday in May we are having Facebook Friday Deals.  What are they?  Well, they are specials that we will be offering on our Facebook Fan Page and here on this blog every Friday.
Because we know not everyone is on Facebook every single Friday (i sure am) we will be extending these deals on Saturday too.

We're sure you're gonna love these amazing deals. 

So, if you have not yet "Liked" us on Facebook, go to our page and do so now. 


Here's our Facebook Page


Our first Facebook Friday deal has already been posted.  If Facebook is not your thing, just subscribe to this blog and you will be in on our Facebook Friday deals.

Our Facebook Friday deals end at 11:59pm on Saturdays.  You must contact us via e-mail with your callback number or call us to take advantage of these deals before they expire. 

Our number is: 508-216-5898

Don't forget to check back every Friday for a new Deal!

Until then...  :-)

Newborn Baby Photography

Last week I had the honor of photographing a newborn baby session.  There are so many reasons why I love being a photographer and this is one of them.  The wonder of the miracle of birth is something that I have always been amazed by.

In just the first few weeks of a baby's life they develop at a very rapid pace and their features change so fast!  That's why I tell my clients to bring baby in just a week or two after they are born.  That is when all the changes happen and by the 4th week, baby doesn't look at all like they did when they were first born.  Of course, there is a resemblance, but they do look different.

It's just so wonderful to have professional portraits made of your baby when they are first born!  Most of our clients remark about how much they value those portraits and say that they can hardly remember their baby that small and innocent.  There's just no comparison to the rest of the photos you will have of your child as the years fly by.

I know that (for me) every time I look at my daughter's newborn portraits, (made on Day Two) they take me back and I remember the feelings I had inside back then; all the joy, the fear; the OMG now I have a baby! :-)

A newborn baby is one of the most remarkable and memorable moments in a parent's life.

Professional portraits of your newborn baby are unlike any photos you can take on your own.

If you are expecting, or know someone who is, and would truly cherish images of their baby in the very first stages of their life, please send them our way.  We will ensure that they have many images to remember their bundle of joy, how they first looked and revisit all of those wonderful feelings....for many, many years.

Beauty Discovered.

15 Years Old, Mis Quince Anos.

Four days ago I photographed one of the Quinceaneras (Sweet 15) celebrations that I had blogged about in a previous post. The quinceanera ceremony took place at The Basilica of the Holy Apostles in Springfield, MA. A very lovely chapel!

WOW! What a great time we all had! That's one of the many reasons why I LOVE photographing quinceaneras and why I love being a photographer! It's a party just about every weekend! There were lots and lots of guests in attendance. The birthday girl's dress was beautiful!  Her entire court was all dressed beautifully and there were several great surprises during the evening for the guest of honor and also the parents. The beautiful decorations and centerpieces were made and arranged by Event Coordinator and Master of Ceremonies, Luz Oquendo-Mateo of Dreams Come True by Luz, who also sang throughout the evening and has a wonderful voice!

 There was a DJ, a Live Band and even a couple of dance routines, practiced & performed by the whole court, who had clearly worked hard on learning them for what must have been weeks!  Excellent job!

There was a very heart-warming ceremony where 14 people (close friends & family) were chosen to bear the candles (14 years of the girl’s life) and these candles would signify that these influential people helped bring her to where she is today. As each person was called up to light one of the fourteen candles, all in attendance were told the representation of the specific candle, whom had been chosen to light it and that person would carry the candle to the center of the floor. Once all 14 of the candles were lit, the birthday girl then lit the 15th candle and placed it on a nearby table, which had a photo of her grandmother who has since passed. After a moment of silence to honor grandma, she then approached each person individually, blew out their candle and thanked them personally and publicly for all they have done for her over the last 15 years.

It was a very tender, tearful moment and at times even I had a hard time holding them back.

After that the party was full-on and went late into the night. I’m still sorting through all the great images captured, but I couldn’t wait to share just a couple of them with you all.

Happy Birthday to you Yuliana! Best wishes to you in the future. Thank you for wanting us to be a part of your special day and letting us capture your future fond memories of it. You’ll be seeing all of your images soon. 

Beauty Discovered.

New Website now Online and New Look on our Blog!

Hi everyone! 

I'm really excited to let you all know that our brand new website is now up and running! YAY!
This new site will be able to support HD video, which we were not able to do with our old site.

Because we are now offering HD video highlight services along with our Hi-resolution photography, we will be able to share both of these great new technological advances with you via our website.

We also added a new look to our Blog page.  If you haven't visited our website or our Blog, check them out!  Here's the info...

Website: http://www.diazdd.com/
Blog: http://www.diazdigitaldiscoveries.blogspot.com/

I would LOVE to hear from you all, so let me know what you think of both the new look on our blog page and our new website.

I'm looking forward to sharing all the beauty I'll be discovering this year and in the years to come.

And...coming very soon will be our other new website, devoted soley to our Boudoir Photography services.
I'll keep you posted on that one too!  Thanks for being fans!

Until next time!

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER.

Hello Blog fans!
Today’s blog is a very important one so I hope you will all not only read it, but share it with your friends.

I read a disturbing article in today’s newspaper and due to the subject matter; it compels me to blog about it.
A (so called) photographer has been arrested for committing multiple crimes to put it mildly! It was later found that this person was only POSING as a professional photographer and not actually a professional photographer.

I'm always very sad when I hear HORROR stories from people about their bad experiences with photographers. One of the first questions that come to mind when I hear these stories is:

Did you ask the photographer the right questions before you hired them?

Many people don't even know what questions to ask before hiring a photographer, be it for their wedding, portrait, baby pictures or anything else. That's why on my website you will find a section with F.A.Q's. Although they are not frequently asked...they should be!

If you want to read those FAQ's, visit my website: http://www.diazdd.com/ and click on the BIO section. There you will see a list of questions that everyone should be asking before hiring a photographer and our respective answers.

The following questions are also just as important and will help you to distinguish an ACTUAL professional photographer from those who just claim to be...

Before you hire a professional photographer, ask, at the very least, these five questions:

1. Do you have a Business Certificate?
All professional photography businesses should have a current valid business certificate displayed in their studio. ($$)

2. Are you registered with the State/Town/City as a business?
A true business needs to register with the city/town they will be doing business in. ($$)

3. Do you have Business Insurance?
You have the right to request a copy of the Insurance Certificate for the studio you are going to hire. ($$$)

4. Do you have any references?
Any successful photography business will most likely have one or more past clients who have volunteered to be used as a reference. Get the numbers and call if you have any doubts.

5. Are you a member of any professional photography associations?
On a national level there is PPA (Professional Photographers of America) http://www.ppa.com/
Locally we have PPAM (Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts) http://www.ppam.com/.

Most every state has their own professional photography association, where fellow professional photographers join and help each other learn and grow to maintain a higher level of professionalism and quality. It is not a requirement to join, but within the association, you will find those who are serious about the business of photography.  Even though we may be vying for the same clients, we have camaraderie and want to see each other succeed as well. ($$$)

There are several more questions that could be asked, but these are a few of the important ones. If you are thinking about hiring a photographer for a wedding or any other reason, do your part to make sure that they are truly a business, not just someone with a camera that claims to be. That way, you can avoid horror stories and bad experiences. Anyone can buy an impressive looking digital camera these days, but that doesn't make them a professional.

One more thing to note would be the old adage which goes: "You get what you pay for".

If it sounds like an unbelievable bargain...it probably is, so don't believe it. Fine professional photography is like Fine Wine...It costs more money because it takes a lot of time and effort to achieve and maintain such quality. However, it is well worth the higher cost.  (The dollar signs above indicate that there is a cost involved in obtaining these things.)

Well, I hope this blog entry will help to serve people in the future who are looking to hire a professional photographer for their wedding or special event. If you know someone shopping for a professional photographer, please send them my way.  http://www.diazdd.com/

We will take very good care of them and we have the paperwork to prove it.  :-)

Thanks for listening. Tell your friends!

Until next time.

International Charity Model Search Contest - Family Portraits

It's not too late to come in for your family portrait sessions before the voting deadline hits!


We will accept entries through April 5, 2010 at midnight. Remember, even if you are entered on April 5th you still have a GREAT chance at becoming a finalist. It only takes some support from your family and friends to get the votes necessary to move into the finals. Voting will continue through April 8, 2010 at midnight Mountain Daylight Time and city finalists can change up until the very last minute.

Hurry in to have your family portrait session and enter this great contest that also help a very good cause.
For more information click on this link:  http://www.sandypucmodels.com/site/c.rwLZKhN1LtH/b.5459895/k.CBA2/Prizes.htm
See you soon!

The Quinceanera Tradition - Sweet 15

Hello Blog fans.

This week I want to share some information with you all about the Quinceañera.  A Hispanic tradition which honors a daughter when she reaches the age of fifteen.  Although you may be familiar with the term, you may not be familiar with what exactly it is and why is it celebrated in (for the most part) such a grandios way.  So here is some information compiled from the web to help explain what it's all about.

In just a couple of weeks, I will have the honor of photographing another one of these events and I will post some images, so stay tuned.  Subscribe to this blog so you don't miss it!

What is a quinceañera?


The quinceañera is a traditional celebration of life and gratitude to God on the occasion of the fifteenth birthday of a young Hispanic woman. The ritual emphasizes her passage from childhood to adulthood. The family usually requests a Mass or a blessing to be held in the Church. The rite is frequently celebrated in several countries in the Americas, including Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. It is frequently requested by Hispanic Catholics in the dioceses of the United States of America.



What is the origin of the quinceañera?

The tribes of Meso-America, possibly the Mayas and Toltecs, celebrated elaborate rites of passage for their young men and women. Rites of passage are known to have existed in the Iberian Peninsula as well. It is believed that he Spanish conquistadores may have brought the practice to Meso-America. It is possible that the missionaries would have approved of this practice, since these rites closely paralleled Christian practices of initiation and marriage. The ancient Mozarabic Rite of the Iberian peninsula had elaborate rituals marking the passage of baptized adolescents, each of which included specific references to Christian initiation and each of which was celebrated following the reception of Holy Communion at Mass. With the suppression of the Mozarabic Rite, many of these rituals passed into popular religious practice.

How is a quinceañera celebrated?

In the presence of family and friends, the young woman (the quinceañera), often accompanied by fifteen young men and women of her choice, (damas y chambelanes), enters the Church in procession, together with her parents and godparents. If she has prepared a reading, she may serve as the lector for at least one of the readings. After the Liturgy of the Word, the quinceañera makes a commitment to God and the Blessed Virgin to live out the rest of her life according to the teachings of Christ and the Church by renewing her Baptismal promises. Then, signs of faith (medal, Bible, rosary, prayer book) which have been blessed  may be given to her. A special blessing of the quinceañera concludes the Liturgy of the Eucharist. After Mass, the young woman is presented to the community. The ritual continues with a dinner and sometimes a dance in her honor.


Who are the participants?

The quinceañera and fifteen young men and women of her choice are joined by members of her family and friends for the celebration. The priest or deacon has a key role as the one who represents the Church and who prays the blessing over the young woman. The local community is also encouraged to gather for the celebration.


May the quinceañera take place without a Mass?

The ritual may be celebrated simply, outside Mass with the young woman, accompanied by her parents and godparents, coming before the priest or deacon to receive a special blessing in the Church. Or, there may be a more elaborate celebration with elegant clothes, flowers, music and decorations and with more than one priest presiding.



Why do parents present their daughter for this celebration?

The parents, in coming to the parish Church seeking the blessing, acknowledge that their daughter has reached the age where she is capable of handling additional responsibility. They see the quince años Mass as a way to thank God for the blessing of their daughter’s life and to seek God’s blessing and guidance as she enters adulthood. The extended family, (grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles and cousins) is usually present, to celebrate with the quinceañera. Esponsores (sponsors), other couples acting as sponsors, may bring forward the blessed religious articles which are presented to the quinceañera.
 
 
 
 

 
Is the rite just for girls?


According to traditional usage, La Bendición de la Quinceañera has been a celebration only for young Hispanic women. This is the practice in the countries of origin of the young women requesting the blessing. Recently, in the Western and Southwestern parts of the United States a limited number of young Hispanic males have requested this blessing for themselves. There is no basis in the traditional usage, however, for the inclusion of young men in the rite.

The celebration also can be a strengthening of the identity of the quinceañera within her family, as well as an affirmation of the gift of women as a blessing to the Church. In the Hispanic community, traditionally it has been the women who hand on the faith. The abuelita (grandmother) holds a special place in the family for that reason. Women organize feast days, celebrate rituals and offer prayers.  Hispanic women are the evangelizers and teachers of values, yet their leadership has often gone unrecognized. The Quince Años Blessing publicly acknowledges this historic role.
 
So there you have it...a quick look at the Quinceanera tradition and its origin.
I will post more images pretty soon.
 
 
Beauty Discovered.

Our New Website is Coming Soon!

Coming soon, we will be launching a new website for our Boudoir Photography services and our Wedding, Portrait and High School Senior pics too.

We have been very busy the past couple of months with all the new changes we have in store. It's very exciting and for those of you who will be part of our photographic family this year and in future years, you will enjoy all the great new things we will have to offer in addition to these two new sites.

We liked our current website just fine, but our photography business has grown fast. So, in order to keep the content separate and the volume acceptable, we have decided to launch a second website.

Our existing site will change domain names soon, though we don't know what to call it yet, but it will be soley for our Boudoir Photography services, which has really grown very fast since we started offering this service a couple of years ago. If any of you have any thoughts or ideas on what you think we should call it, please let us know. We are trying to think of something catchy & classy.

Our new site will be our primary site for weddings, portraits and High School Senior Portraits.
This new site has bigger images, a more user friendly interface, easier to navigate through. We can wait to share it with you all!

We will hopefully be able to launch the site sometime early April...or as soon as we can come up with a name for our Boudoir Site.

Subscribe to this blog (above) and stay tuned for more info on this and all the other new things we are doing.

Until next time...

International Charity Model Search Contest

Time is running out to take advantage of this great offer.
Read on for an extra bonus special!

The International Charity Model Search is not only a great contest with fabulous prizes (including a new car), it is one of the largest fundraisers for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep - a foundation dedicated to providing free portraiture to families suffering the loss of a newborn.

We know how meaningful this gift can be to a family's healing process and we want to do everything we can to help, so we are introducing a great offer for you to help us help NILMDTS.

For every family you refer to join the ICMS contest at our studio we'll give you a $100 gift certificate to use anytime in 2010. There is no limit to the number of gift certificates you can receive, so the more families you can reach the more money you can receive!

Hurry! The contest ends very soon!

New Wedding Photo Video Shows for 2010

Hello Blog fans!
I am really excited to tell you about a brand new service we are offering our clients.
We are now adding video highlights to our list of available wedding services to give you the best of both worlds... photo and video combined.
Here is a condensed sample of our new wedding photo/video shows. The full length shows are approx 30 minutes long, completely customized and include images, music & audio as well.
Book your wedding with us and ask about this brand new, really cool service!
More shows coming soon. Subscribe to this blog so you won't miss one!
Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8foKRDMoOA

International Charity Model Search Contest

Hello Blog fans!

Only one more month of open voting for the International Charity Model Search! Is your family the cutest family in North America? Contact us today to enter this unique contest for a chance to win a new car and help raise funds for a great cause, the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation.

Hurry in and have your family photographed at the special price of only $49.
This offer is ending very soon!

508-216-5898 or e-mail us: info@DiazDD.com

We Love Facebook Fans!

Hello blog fans!

I've got something really great to share with you all!

In honor of Valentine's Day, we are going to show you our love!

We love Facebook! We love our Facebook fans!

So, this Valentine's Day, we are going to prove it.

If you aren't yet a fan of Diaz Digital Discoveries on Facebook, you may want to become one right now!

This Friday we are sending out a special email to all our fans...and you don't want to miss out on this one!

Log onto Facebook, search for Diaz Digital Discoveries and become a fan today!

Then check your FACEBOOK e-mail inbox on Friday so you'll be "in the know".

Thanks for being a fan!

The Winner of our iPod Touch Giveaway is.....

Hello Blog Fans!

Well, we are starting the year off on the right foot! Things are really going great here at DDD and we have many new changes and exciting things to share with you all that are coming up in 2010. Subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a single thing! This year we are going to Evolve...and we'd like you there with us! This year we are going to bring you the "Best of..."

For those of you who haven't been following us, we love giving prizes away to our clients! In the past our clients have won great prizes, such as:

- a 50" Plasma TV to one lucky wedding client.
- an iPod Touch to one of our High School Seniors
- and more!

Our last giveaway (December 31st)was for another iPod Touch, but this time we wanted to give it to one lucky bride/groom.

How did they qualify? Anyone who chose us for their wedding photography for the 2010/2011 season and booked their date with us before December 31, 2009 was automatically entered into our drawing.Then, from all of our booked clients, a name was drawn to be the winner.

Well, that drawing was completed and the winner of the iPod Touch is: Stephanie Esper, who is due to be married in August 2010. Stephanie not only won the iPod Touch, but it will be fully loaded with ALL (yes ALL) of the images we capture on her wedding day!

Those are some big bragging rights for sure!

Congratulations Stephanie! We will contact you with more information on your prize! Thank you so very much for choosing us to capture the images of your wedding celebration! We are looking forward to it!

Blog fans: Spread the word! When you book your wedding photography with us, you not only get great images....you get great prizes too! What will it be next? Who knows...but I can tell you this...it's gonna be really cool!

Stay with us as we devulge the details of what's new and what's coming at Diaz Digital Discoveries.

Until next time... "Discover the beauty in your world."

January White Sale!

Happy New Year everyone!

May this year bring you all lots of joy, love, happiness and success in all that you endeavor!

Just wanted to let you all in on our January White Sale that's going on throughout this whole month.

What is our White Sale you ask? We are currently booking mini sessions (30 minutes, White outifts, on White background.) for our White sale.




Put on your white clothing and come in for a unique perspective and some great images.

Our White sale sessions are only $49 in studio. But hurry...as usual, these sessions are limited and the sale ends on January 31st.

Call or contact us today to book your white sale session!

With plenty of snow on the ground now, you can even have your white on white session right outside our studio for a great winter outdoor image...at no extra charge.

What's more...if we have already photographed you in a White on White image, you can save 15% off the purchase of those images (size 8x10 or larger). Just contact us to place your order for any of those images.

Call: 508-216-5898 or send an e-mail to Ed@DiazDD.com to book your White Sale session.

Also: keep a look out for our next post, where we have some New, New, New things to share with you about all the great changes for DDD in 2010! We can't wait to share the details with you! It's gonna be an exciting year!