Please, have a seat!

One of the later aspects of wedding planning is a seating plan for the guests at the reception. People can sometimes get quite creative when it comes to showing their guest where to sit. We've all seen the pretty little place cards, directing people to their table number, such as these little bow tied cards.

At Photo & Video by Joe Goldsberry, we've taken the "where to sit" to a whole new level by offering our custom seating charts. They are custom-made for each client, and limited only by your imagination. We don't use templates, and that makes them like snowflakes. (No two are alike!)

The photo we use can be one we took if we did your engagement session, or it can be a photo that you provide. (Photos from other professional photographers must have a print release from the photographer to be used). We've done both horizontal and vertical, and our size choices are 16X20, 20X30 and 24X36. You can have your seating chart made as a print that you can frame, or we can have it mounted onto a foam core backing for you.

Check out the guest list from our "prototype" seating chart. We only attended this wedding in our head.

We have a few of these charts at our studio in downtown Whitman, so if you are in the area and want to see what they look like in person, stop by. Check out a few examples and pricing of our custom seating charts, and let us know what you think of them.

Hop on over!!

Those who read this blog and live nearby are quite aware that this winter has pretty much been the winter that wasn't. I don't hear too many complaints about that! As I write this post, spring is officially 15 days away! The spring equinox is right around the corner!

What does this mean for Photo & Video by Joe Goldsberry? It means the wedding season will be in full swing before we know it. It also means lots of outdoor portrait sessions, and lots of happy clients!

On those happy notes, we leave you with a photo we took during a family portrait session this past weekend. This one captures the spirit of spring, and will put a smile on the face of all who see it.

Thanks for the memories, Capt'n

Sounds like it's official - our favorite Red Sox catcher, #33 Jason Varitek, will announce his retirement on Thursday. It's bittersweet, because we'll miss him at the games we make it to this season. However, if Varitek knows it's time to retire, we have to totally respect that.

We just wanted to share a few shots of Varitek we have taken over the years. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

We've been to Camden Yards a few times (Fenway South), and we've taken many photos there. We highly suggest the ballpark tour, if you ever get down there.

Another game at Camden Yards, Cash caught most of this game but Varitek came in near the end.

Tropicana Field in St.Pete is said to have the closest seats to home plate of any MLB field (50 feet). Yeah, we were about that close for this photo.

Thanks for all the great memories, Capt'n. Enjoy a well deserved retirement.

Babies, and children and families... Oh my!!!

When you think of getting your family photos done, whether it's just the new baby all by herself, or the whole family, where are going? For so many people, the first thing that comes to mind is the department store photographer. Let's look into this and start a discussion. The history of department store "photographers" was simply to get families into the store to spend some money, and not so much on the photos, but in the store itself. (Surely you have noticed the department store photographer is usually located at the back of the store? That's not just a coincidence.)

Often it's assumed that the department store photographer is the "cheap" way out, with the $9.95 come on price. When is the last time you or someone you know left with photos for $9.95? One of our recent clients who made the switch from department store to professional photographer told us they ended up spending over $400, and they were less than thrilled with the photos. All too common, they were hit with the hard sell pitch of "Ohhhhh, how could you say "no" to THIS one? Or THIS one?" And $400 later, they left with an envelope of photos that they didn't really care for, but were made to feel guilty for not caring for them. Sound familiar?

This would be a good time to show how Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry does it... This photo was taken at their home with a simple portable white background.

Another common complaint we have been hearing from moms and dads of very young children is the frustration the child feels being cooped up in the back of the department store, expected to smile on command. That frustration shows through in the photos. Here, little Kyla has run of the Whitman Town Park, which brings out her natural smile in a relaxed way.

I think every family has some of those "department store photographer" photos, and it may do you good to pull them out and compare the lighting, the poses, the background, the color and the composition to some of our photos.

Consider a professional photo shoot with Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry at our studio in downtown Whitman, at a nearby park or even at your home. You'll be pleasantly surprised with our pricing, and you'll be thrilled with the quality and personal service you get from a professional photographer like Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry.

If you don't believe us, just ask Maddie...

It all starts with the engagement photos...

Once you start searching for your wedding photographer, a good place to begin is with engagement photos. An engagement session need not be a formal, frilly, over dressed session. Today's engagement photo sessions are known to be more laid back, capturing the "real" couple. Gone are the days of the couple simply smiling into the camera, with nothing but their faces taking up the entire frame. Here to stay are photos that jump right off the page with awe-inspiring color and dimension.

Bringing your photographer to a favorite place and just "being yourself" is a great way to start to get to know your wedding photographer, and for the photographer to really get to know your personalities. Sarah and Donn brought us to the Arnold Arboretum for their photos.

Sometimes black and white can tell the story just as well as color, as seen in these photos, first showcasing Danielle and Mike at the Quincy Quarries, and the Tony and Donna at White Horse Beach.

Even in a silhouette, their smiles shine through...

A location as seemingly simple at Whitman Town Park can bring a whole new perspective to your photos.

Shawna and Sterling had the Public Gardens in mind for their engagement photos...

Give Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry a call to set up a meeting at our studio to discuss your wedding photography. We'd love to hear about your ideas for engagement photos. Some posed, some candid, and somewhere in between make for a great mix of shots to choose from. We'll end with Mark and Meredith, this photo taken in Boston was Meredith's favorite...

Plymouth County GOP 3rd Annual Recognition Breakfast

We were asked to photograph the Plymouth County GOP 3rd Annual Recognition Breakfast, held at the Monponsset Inn, and consider it an honor to have been able to capture some very important local political figures. We got some great shots of Senator Scott Brown, Plymouth Country Sheriff Joe McDonald, State Rep Geoff Diehl, and many of the honorees in attendance. What made the event even more full of life and fun were all the kids that came along with their parents. You might not think that this could be such a family event, but you'd be wrong!

Plymouth County Sheriff Joe McDonald said a few words, and one of his daughters came up to the podium with him.

Senator Scott Brown poses with Emily Diehl and her dad, State Rep. Geoff Diehl.

The special honor of "lifetime achievement award" went to former State Rep. Ned Kirby.

Thanks to the Plymouth County GOP for asking Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry to capture their very special event.

Have Camera, Will Travel...

When you're a professional photographer, your camera is your paintbrush, and the world is your canvas. There is a place in New England, a hidden gem, that we want to share with you. It's a town called York, and it's in southern Maine. About 90 minutes from Boston, and you have easy access to New Hampshire and Vermont, as well. We try to get to York a few times a year, and when we do, we always stay at The Union Bluff. We don't have to bring a camera with us everywhere we go, but what fun would that be? Having just returned after a couple of days in York (which included watching a certain ill-fated football game at The Union Bluff Pub), we wanted to share some of the fun and photos.

If you are wondering why we'd return to the same spot, time after time, take a visit to York and you'll find your answer pretty quick. Filled with the nicest, friendliest and most "down home" people you'll ever meet, one visit and you'll be hooked, too.

York is also home to what is said to be "the most photographed lighthouse in the world". Cape Neddick Lighthouse, more commonly known as "Nubble Light", is a beauty to behold. Located down the road from The Union Bluff at Sohier Park, Nubble Light has ample free parking and many views to easily photograph it from many angles.

It's not always rest and relaxation at York Beach. We have been commissioned more than once for family portraits in the area. One of our favorites, little Waverly, was taken about 2 years ago. We hear she has a new baby brother, and is ready for some new family portraits.

If you're looking for a quiet getaway, or if you're not a "jump in the ocean" beach person, visit York off-season. If you like swimming in the ocean, an old-fashioned arcade and bowling alley, and some hustle and bustle", visit in the summer. You can walk to York Zoo from The Union Bluff via an easy stroll through the quaint downtown area. Back at the hotel, you can see, hear and smell the ocean from your balcony.

If you take the trip to York, or if you have already been, let us know what you think. We'd love to compare notes!

The life of a VHS tape (or "The end of your memories")

There is a big trend on the horizon, and we have already seen it starting. It's about converting your VHS tapes onto a DVD format. VHS tapes simply don't last forever. Most experts estimate they will remain playable for somewhere between 15-25 years, depending on how they are stored. Imagine your wedding, your parent's wedding, your kids from baby to grade school and then graduating high school. Now imagine the only audio and video record you have of those memories, gone forever. It happens all too often, and yet it's so easily avoided. All you need to do is gather all your VHS tapes and bring them in to Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry for conversion to DVD. We do all our work in-house, so you can feel confident knowing your tapes will never have to take the chance of getting lost in the mail. Most of the larger companies, like CVS and Walgreens, do send them out to yet a larger company. Imagine, they charge twice as much, take twice as long, and on top of that, your tapes could potentially be lost.

We are proud to say we have the lowest prices around. The prices go even lower as your quantity of tapes goes up.

We are delivering a wedding video VHS to DVD conversion today that was shot 15 years ago (shot by Joe Goldsberry!) The bride's mom and dad have both since passed away, and today she will get to see them come alive once again, reliving her dad walking her down the aisle and seeing her mom dance the night away.

Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry (formerly known as Videography by Media Concepts) also has a very special offer that can't be beat. If you (or anyone you know) had their wedding filmed by Joe Goldsberry and delivered on VHS, bring it in to our studio at 29 Church St., Whitman, and we will made a DVD copy for you at no charge. There are literally hundreds of weddings, dating back to 1981, filmed by Joe Goldsberry and sitting on shelves in VHS format, just waiting to come to life again on DVD.

We are happy to take orders as small as one VHS tape, to as many as you have. We did an order this past December that included just over 100 VHS tapes. Give us a call at 774-240-1152 if you have any questions about VHS to DVD transfers, and then gather up your tapes.

So I heard there's a football game this weekend...

I've even heard it's a pretty important game, a real big deal. One of those "Bowl" football games. Oh, and the New England Patriots are playing. Cool! All this talk of the New England Patriots reminded me of a wedding Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry filmed a couple of years ago. Trying to explain it in print just won't do it any justice, so please have a look at this short clip from the wedding of Stephanie and Dan...

I am happy to report, Stefanie and Dan are still happily married. I'm not sure what Dan's plans are for this weekend, but I do know what Stefanie is doing.

The officiant in this clip is actually the bride's aunt, Carol Merletti, of Wedding of Your Desire. Carol is a Massachusetts Justice of the Peace who has been performing weddings since being appointed in 2004. She doesn't just perform ceremonies concerning the Patriots. Out of over 650 weddings, Carol has performed 22 wedding ceremonies at Fenway Park. I also don't mind sharing a wonderful fact about Carol, she performs ceremonies for any active duty military personnel at no charge.

Be sure to share this post with your favorite Patriots fan (or a Giants fan who you don't really care for). And click "like" if you're rooting for the Patriots. I am sure you will agree, Stefanie really captures the true spirit of the upcoming game!

Cell Phones for Soldiers

The studio for Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry is an official drop off location for Cell Phones for Soldiers. If you have no idea what Cell Phones for Soldiers is all about, I am here to fill you in with the facts! Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by two teenagers from Norwell, Mass. Siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, at the ages of 12 and 13, decided they wanted to show their family's appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed the day-to-day contact with their own families to serve in the U.S. armed forces. Started in 2004, they have raised over 7 million dollars in donations, having collected over 8.3 million cellular devices.

You can drop off your old, discarded, and even broken cell phones at any official drop off (including Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry's studio at 29 Church Ave., Whitman). Cell Phones for Soldiers sends the old phones for recycling and uses the money from that to purchase calling cards, which are then sent to soldiers overseas, so they can call home to their loved ones without adding a financial burden to an already stressful time. Every $5 raised provides 2.5 hours of talk time.

You can also request talk time to be sent to a soldier you know overseas.

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a program that Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry is happy to support, and we hope that you will consider supporting them, too. Give us a call at 774-240-1152 if you want to drop off some old cell phones. We have already collected and sent off approximately 200 cell phones since we became an official drop off location.

Visit Cell Phones for Soldiers blog, and read about how such a small act on your part can make such a big difference in the life of a soldier.

A wedding favor that won't get left behind...

When you've been in the wedding business as long as we have, you've seen every wedding favor known to mankind. Some are, oh let's say interesting. Some are cool, awesome, kitschy, unique, useful, sui generis... and some (many) just get left behind. Let's face it, there are only so many ways you can display Jordan Almonds in a fashion that prompts people take them home. When I found Kustom Kissers on a wedding vendor forum, I knew I was on to something special, something different, and something I'd want to talk about. I actually won my first order of lip balms on their blog contest (the ultimate "try before you buy") and yet, I was so impressed with the all around quality (packaging, photo quality, the lip balm itself) that I was sold, and placed a second order. I give them out at venue open houses/tastings, and I also sent a couple of them to each couple featured on the lip balm. (Let me tell you - that was a HIT!)

I love supporting another small business, and Heather at Kustom Kissers fits the bill of small business extraordinaire, even from clear across the country from us (she is located in Arizona).

Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry were happy to send back a few photos of the final product, because when something is great, we want to make sure everyone hears about it (or sees it!)

If we're in “good hands”, then you're in good hands. (Or: Why your wedding vendor should have liablity insurance)

We recently had a meeting with a prospective couple, and they had some questions for us. Most were “run of the mill” type questions that we are used to. The bride then asked, directly from her notes “Do you carry liability insurance?”Easy to answer. “Yes, we do”. Then she made a nervous giggle and said “I really don't even know why I'm asking you that, I just read it from a list of questions I printed out.”

She had no idea just how important that question is, and you, the reader, have no idea how often a prospective client asks us that. Almost never.

Liability insurance is, in our opinion, a cost of doing business. It is not required. But carrying it says how serious we are about Photo and Video by Joe Goldsberry. This is our full-time business, full-time job, and our bread and butter. We can not imagine skimping on something as important as liability insurance. Sure, we hope we never need it. But come the day that we do need it, our client will be oh so elated that they choose to hire a company for their wedding that cared enough to treat their business like a, well, like a real business.

The company we happen to use, R.F. D'Agostino Insurance, helped us come up with a policy that covers what insurance was meant to cover - the unexpected. We are taking tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment from our studio to various churches, venues and reception halls. Depending on the job, we could have cords, electrical components, cameras unattended on tripods and many other situations which could lead to liability on our part. As careful as we are, (knock on wood), we don't own a crystal ball, and we can't predict the future.

We welcome questions during client meetings about our liability insurance, our coverage, and the company we use. We can produce a certificate for any venue that requires vendors to carry their own insurance. We wish more people would ask about it, and we want to get the word out about just how important this aspect of choosing your vendors is. This is truly something that sets apart the serious, full-time photographers and videographers who care about their company from the weekend warriors who charge a cut-rate price for a mediocre product. It even sets us apart from other full-time companies who just don't care enough to protect themselves and their clients.

Oh, and we can even keep this post more “wedding friendly” than you think. After Mark D'Agostino became our insurance agent, he and his fiance, Meredith, became our clients!

And the wedding...

A Tuesday Wedding? Why Not?!

After over 30 years in the wedding industry, we're seeing a new trend starting to emerge. The weekday wedding. And we say... "Why not?!" There are seven days in the week, and where is it written that you can only celebrate your wedding day on three of those days? When Nir and Yamit first came to us looking for a wedding photographer, they hadn't even decided on a venue yet. The one thing they knew for sure was they would be married on a Tuesday. A weekday wedding made it easier for family and friends who were not local to attend. This would be out first Tuesday wedding, and another first for us - we were able to recommend the venue to the couple (usually the first thing a couple books). And so it was set, the ceremony and reception to take place at The Easton Country Club. We were also able to recommend a great videographer for the couple, Cupid Productions, via our special photo/video package.

So now you are wondering, a Tuesday wedding? How many people really come out for a Tuesday wedding? I can tell you (and I can show you, via photos) that this wedding was no less full of love, laughter and excitement than any of the other hundreds of weddings we have shot. Family and friends from all over showed up to wish Nir and Yamit well, and to bear witness to their union as man and wife.

And so, while we can't predict if the weekday wedding will become a new trend or just an occasional event, we can tell you that we do already have our next one booked for June, 2012. Stay tuned...

Welcome to our blog!

Hello and welcome! If you are taking the time to read this, you have found the brand spanking new blog for Photo & Video by Joe Goldsberry, and we want to thank you for stopping by and taking a peek. Photo & Video by Joe Goldsberry is a small business with a studio/store front in downtown Whitman, Mass. You may have heard of Whitman- it's where the Toll House cookie was invented (what we now call the chocolate chip cookie).

With this blog, we plan to keep our readers entertained and educated with our beautiful photography, our engaging videos, and posts about the photo, video and wedding industry. We'll be writing about topics that you didn't even think to ask about (but you'll be glad we did!) and we'll invite guest bloggers to come on from time to time. We'll introduce you to other local (and sometimes not so local) small businesses, people we do business with and have come to trust.

A little bit about us. Photo & Video by Joe Goldsberry is owned by Joe Goldsberry (as you could imagine). We are a small company who takes customer service very seriously. We strive to treat every client as we would expect to be treated, and we also endeavor to help educate our clients, so they receive the best service and the best end product possible.

Our studio/store front is located at 29 Church St. in Whitman. We keep regular posted business hours, but being a small business, we also see clients during off hours by appointment, when requested. We provide professional photography and videography for weddings and other events, as well as studio and on location portraits and corporate services. We also provide a tape to DVD service in-house which is currently seeing a boom, as people are finding all their old home movies, dance recitals and their own wedding on tapes that they can no longer watch. We are also a full-time business, which is a great asset to our clients.

Joe is assisted by his wife, Denise, in day-to-day operations as well as marketing and customer service. We hope you will enjoy the photos, videos and posts that will follow, and share our blog with your families and friends. We welcome your input and questions, and look forward to a great blogging experience.