Bald Photo Guy Blog - Frank Donnino

Prepping for my trip to Destin, Florida

Frank Donnino — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:23:23 +0000

I am very picky who I give my money to – for anything.

I have to see value in order to part with my money. I work hard for my money – as you do. That’s why I love giving my clients “over the top” service when I photograph. They only get the best. Period. They also get more in value than what they paid for. Period.

Not to get off my main purpose for this post, but yesterday I met with a person who was trying to sell me a marketing plan for my business. When setting up the meeting, her only request that I would give her a yes or no answer. That’s weird in itself. How negative right? Now most people would give all kinds of excuses if they don’t want to buy someone’s product. But not me. If I am not interested in what you have to sell me, I will tell you. I mean – why waste time by putting them off and then getting follow up phone calls, emails etc – trying to get an answer out of me. It’s nonsense.

Anyway, we arranged a meeting at Starbucks. Her first mistake: At least offer to buy me coffee if you want my business. She did not. I patiently listened to her sales “pitch.” She talked about the benefits to those who would get this mailing piece, but not the benefits to me. I kept waiting for that part.

After a non-stop presentation, I had to interrupt her after she said: “You would be the “exclusive” photographer with my program.”

Ok…so I asked a simple question: ”So how many photographers have done this with you prior to me?” She hesitated and mentioned two names. One photographer I know and have studied with. The another one I was familiar with her work. The first photographer that I knew – was not doing this program anymore. In fact, stopped it in 1999? Huh? The second photographer had not renewed. Lucky me.

So I told her I would have to do some research before giving her my answer. She seemed dejected. Mistake #2.

I made one phone call when I got home to the second photographer who had not renewed the program and she had a less than favorable review of what she had paid for. I simply emailed this salesperson and said it did not meet my needs.

Didn’t this salesperson know I would contact at least one of the businesses she would be talking to me about? Didn’t she know that if she has to solicit business all the time – it tells me that people drop out because it does not work? Whoa. Where was the value? Where?

Ok…this was more information than you wanted to know. But maybe it will help you the next time you are trying to be sold a product or service.

Now to the main point of my post: Why value is so important to me and why I invest my money carefully.

Zach and Jody Gray

I am so excited to be part of a select group of photographers who are descending on the city of Destin, Florida. We are studying with the husband and wife team of Zach and Jody Gray.

I was attracted to this couple first and foremost because of their love of God. They make it quite clear in how they live each day of their lives. Their love for each other is evident. That in itself was good enough for me.

The second thing that attracted me was they have studied and applied Dave Ramsey’s (www.DaveRamsey.com) principals in their lives and living debt free as I do. I happen to be a Dave Ramsey counselor. Nothing is a coincidence.

Zach and Jody are not only good photographers, but they love “over the top” service – as I do. I am such a “fan” of these two, I have all their videos on my iPad and iPhone so I can listen to them anytime, anywhere. Yes…I am a big fan.

By studying for two full days with Zach and Jody, I will be taking my business and photography to a whole new level. I am investing a lot of money to study with them. Will they give me value? I have no doubts whatsoever.

If you are a praying person, please pray for a safe trip for me. Pray also that I bring as much knowledge as my brain can absorb back to my clients for their benefit.

For myself, I hope to be out on the beach the day before the workshop for a sunrise photo shoot. Just me and God.

Thanks!

Frank

The Bald Photo Guy www.MyBaldPhotographer.com

Ashley’s Big Adventure

Frank Donnino — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:13:15 +0000

One of the most touching stories to come along in my “path” is the story of Ashley. Ashley was born with Cerebral Palsy. The doctors told her mom to abort her. Her mom refused.

I was given the honor of photographing the lovely Ashley because she may want to try modeling. Ashley has a beautiful face but her best feature – is her stunning eyes. Her eyes draw you in and she has a mysterious look to her. Quite stunning. It was a very rewarding photo shoot.

Liza (Ashley’s mom) and I hit it off great. We had something in common. Our doctor wanted us to abort our baby that we had planned to give up for adoption – (that’s a whole other long story) and we (like Leeza) also “fired” the doctor and got a second opinion. Our baby was born with no issues at all.

It just goes to show you that a mother’s love – a burning love for their child cannot be squashed or silenced.

So for my little part, in my little world, I wanted to say “thank you” to Leeza and Ashley for coming into my life and letting me into theirs. Ashley…you have a purpose in life. I know you will find it. Never quit. Never give up!

Love to you always beautiful Ashley!

“Uncle Frank” www.MyBaldPhotographer.com

Lauren and Joe’s Wedding

Frank Donnino — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:45:21 +0000

The weather was not looking good this past Saturday for Lauren and Joe’s wedding. I was pacing around my house because I knew this was one of those times that I may not be able to “shoot between the rain drops” – as I am so often blessed with and noted for.

This time was different. The radar showed a pictured I was…well…concerned about. A deep tropical system was just sitting there to the south east of the South Florida coast. The more I kept watching my radar maps and checking the wind direction (or lack of it), the worse I felt. There were no winds to move this big bad boy system along. I wanted to give a big push. But that was not happening.

My sick feelings deep inside for the couple were warranted. A wedding ceremony was planned at the beach and the torrential rains in the area was not going to be a good combination. Yes – the bride and groom would be under some covering, but still. I felt really bad. All the wedding party and guests had to get to the covering.

As I tried to get my mind off things and did my final checks of my camera equipment, I checked radar one last time. Then all of a sudden…I SAW IT! A break in the moisture that would be over Boca Raton around the time we needed it. But it was going to be so close! We would still be surrounded by heavy rains.

First Look

Lauren and Joe wanted to do a “first look” and we were going to meet at the Boca Raton Resort Hotel and then from there go to the beach. We had planned photographs on the beach after the ceremony.

I arrived at the hotel and shortly there after, it started to rain. “Where is my opening Lord. You never let me down.” I said to myself. So…I just accepted it. Whatever would be, would work out. It always seems to on my weddings.

But…still…I am who I am. I’m still checking my phone’s radar maps. I still see the opening I need on radar and I am tracking it. Then as quickly as the rain started, it stopped! It never rained again for the entire wedding day. Whoa!

The grooms’s sister Lisa found me in the lobby and Joe was already waiting with the guys in the bar area. A quick call to Lauren by Joe and he told me that Lauren was on her way. Yes! It was gonna happen!The bride wore her mom’s wedding gown and she looked just as beautiful in her dress as her mom did when she first wore it. That just added that special joy to the incredible day we all had.

Lauren's mom

After the ceremony, the sky was shaping up for some dramatic photographs. Just the kind of sky I like in situations like this.

The waves and sky worked together for me

The wedding reception was held at Lauren’s parent’s home in Boca Raton. Susan and Bob were gracious hosts and everyone really enjoyed the night. Lauren and Joe each relaxed in their own way. Sandals for the bride and a cigar for the groom.

Special thanks to Lauren’s parents Susan and Bob, her father Michael, Joe’s parents Joseph and Sharon, and all the family members (thanks Lisa!) and the bridal party: Lissette, Nick, Amanda, Earle, and Larissa. Thanks everyone!

Please leave a comment or I am just talking to myself. LOL

Frank – The Bald Photo Guy www.MyBaldPhotographer.com

Amanda and Kevin’s Wedding Day

Frank Donnino — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:33:45 +0000

One of my most recent weddings was one I was really looking forward to. The location they chose for the ceremony was the Spanish Monastery in Miami. Amanda and Kevin were very excited to tell me about all the details of their location. I had always heard about it – but was never able to photograph there.

To say the location for the ceremony was a photographers dream is an understatement. The lighting at all times of the day is awesome!

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Jefferson

It was a perfect day weather wise and just enough of a breeze to make it very comfortable for their outdoor ceremony.

I loved Amanda’s attention to details. Everything was just perfect and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Kevin…well he is just a funny guy. Both Amanda and Kevin had great ideas in addition to my own. Kevin adores Amanda very much. They call each other King and Queen. AWE!

After we were done with our photographs, the bride and groom were transported to the hotel by a horse and buggy. What a reception they received when they arrived at the hotel for the party.

Speaking of reception…it was held at the Newport Beachside Hotel and Resort in Miami under the incredible direction of Michael J. O’Malley Jr. He had everything under control and the party when so smoothly. His staff did an amazing job!

The biggest surprise of the night was when Amanda and Kevin announced they were having a baby! Yup…right at the time they were cutting their cake!

Guess who is doing the baby photos? Yeah baby!

As an added bonus to Amanda and Kevin’s wedding day, I entered some of their photographs in a local competition with other photographers. They won!

Thank you Amanda and Kevin for a great time. I look forward to your maternity photo shoot on the beach soon!

Another awesome wedding

Frank Donnino — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:13:29 +0000

I recently had the honor of photographing the wedding of Moira and Jon Moxley. It was held at the Norton Museum of Art under the direction of Sonia Latalladi. What an elegant affair. Everything was just perfect.

Moira is a pistol. She was so much fun to work for. She is a person who knows what she wants and makes sure it happens. She is not only stunningly beautiful, but she is one of the happiest people I know.

Jon is a go with the flow type of guy. He is very easy going and adores Moria with all his heart.

I have no doubt that they will be having a long and happy life together.

Thanks Moira and Jon for allowing me to provide you with awesome memories of your day!

The Joy Of Weddings

Frank Donnino — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:19:02 +0000

Wow! It’s been a fast paced few weeks. I feel like I have been on a constant creative high as I have put my heart and soul into some recent weddings I have had the honor to photograph. I wanted to highlight one for my blog today. Kelly and Ryan Cronin’s wedding.

Kelly…what can I say about Kelly. From the moment we met the chemistry was there. We both knew deep down that I was meant to be her photographer and she was meant to be my bride. We knew deep down inside that her wedding day would be nothing short of perfect. It was – and then some.

The great thing about Kelly is she had total trust in me. That means a lot when I photograph.

The most “uncreative” thing you can do to a photographer is “micro manage” them. I will discuss that on another blog post. It never works out and it’s a shame.

Kelly did not try to tell me how to do things. She was not the type. She listened to all my suggestions so the time line we had in place – maximized the time we had to capture their love story.

Ryan was awesome. He just let me do my thing without complaint. Wow – did he come out great! I had to take a double take as I was looking at his photos when I got back from the wedding. He looked like he’d been modeling wedding attire for years. He’s a very handsome man. It was not hard at all to make him look terrific.

And Kelly and Ryan’s families…

They treated me with the utmost respect and that made me want to “wow” them even more.

Thank you Linda and Mike. Thank you Kathy. And…thank you Uncle Dave!

Can we do it again next year?

Secrets #15, #16, #17 and finally secret #18 for hiring your wedding photographer

Frank Donnino — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:00:52 +0000

Well this wraps up my series of my 18 secrets for hiring your wedding photographer.

I hope have found these tips helpful. If you have any questions…call 561-732-1414

15) Quality, Service and Value- The only things worth insisting on. You have to speak up prior to your wedding. Because if you don’t, you certainly will speak up after it. I always say “go with your gut” and let that be your guide. If you are talking to the photographer that will be doing your wedding and you have that “chemistry” you should will be fine.

16) Unfortunately, the photographer is one of the last people considered and hired for the wedding. The best photographers will most likely be booked up well in advance – DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!!!

17) As much as he wants to, DO NOT LET UNCLE LEO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR WEDDING in place of a qualified professional photographer! In the beginning this might sound like a good idea- (uncle Leo’s pictures from his trip to Yosemite look pretty good)- the price is certainly right, BUT the benefit of low cost does not outweigh the inability to anticipate and cap- ture the moments of your day, the poor lighting and posing skills, and the absence of years of ex- perience. Do it right the first time- you won’t waste your time or money-

18) Is the photographer you have in mind, being attentive to your needs even though you have not hired them yet? Have your phone calls been returned in a timely manner? Have emails been replied to in a manner you want to be treated? Does the website look professional or not. These three things alone could be warning signs of a potential disaster. The bottom line is you cannot do this over.

Best of luck!

Secrets #10, #11, #12 #13 and #14 for hiring your wedding photographer

Frank Donnino — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:36:31 +0000

Wow…where does the time go. We are already in to March and the wedding season is heating up fast!

Today I am going to give you some more secrets to hiring the person who will be “held responsible” for capturing your wedding day memories. I have been reading some heartbreaking stories of bad experiences that couples have had. Personally I have been having some major rants over these stories. I don’t know how they can sleep nights. Please PLEASE do not become a statistic.

Ready? Here we go.

10) How many other weddings will the photographer be handling the weekend of your wedding? Is it possible that they may be over-extending themselves? An exhausted photographer is not a creative photographer. Doing more than one wedding in a weekend, (I only try to do one per month on average!) is a ton of work and a recipe for trouble. Make sure you find out the way they do business.

11) Are there any limitations? Is there any time limits? Do they limit the number of exposures they take? Limit the number of locations? Sadly, sometimes photographers use “time” as a way to limit the amount of hours based on price they will be spending with you. Sometimes a brides budget will only allow a minimum amount of hours. Although there is nothing wrong with that approach, usually a wedding is spread out over 6-8 hours of time. Proper planning and timing from the photographer (a wedding day timeline) is a must or you will be shelling out more money for an hourly fee. Make sure all the details are spelled out in advance so you are not shocked.

12) Is there a MINIMUM ORDER that you must buy? If they have a minimum order, they might not be very confident that you’ll want to buy much. Maybe, just maybe, their work is not as good as it could be, but they still want to make sure you’ll buy a certain amount. Ask questions! Be careful!

Important Points To Remember…

13) Your wedding day is a true “once-in-a-lifetime” event, it should be recorded sensitively and accurately by a qualified photographer!

14) If you are on a strict budget, you will need to be extremely picky about choosing the right photographer. You get what you pay for! I heard recently of a bride who booked a photographer for $400. Guess what? She got her $400 worth. She can’t complain if the “pics” are not what she dreamed of. She got what she paid for. Anyone with a camera these days can take a picture. But constant study, workshops, seminars, etc are the mark of a person who is taking what they do seriously. Price determines everything.

Thanks!

I met Gabby today…

Frank Donnino — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:44:06 +0000

I am so happy because today I got to meet another “perfect” (and beautiful) bride that I am passionate about working for next year – photographing her wedding. Gabby will be marrying Clint on June 1st 2013. I already have respect for Clint because he’s in the service – the Air Force to be exact.

I loved my initial phone call with Gabby’s mom (Heather) and listening carefully to her thoughts about Gabby and Clint’s relationship. It turned out that Clint asked Gabby’s father for permission to marry his daughter. Very admirable these days don’t you think? I certainly thought so.

Heather…a mom, a parent like me, is rightfully concerned. Concerned about if her child is making the right decision. She knows she is. I’ve been there also. So I understand. I had to see my own daughter make her own decisions concerning marriage. Being a parent is not easy. Being a child (even though they are adults) is not easy.

As Heather spoke I continued to listen and I take more notes.

But then Heather said something that really struck me.

One of my other brides (Kelly) that I am photographing this month for her wedding, was Gabby’s babysitter when Gabby was younger. Amazing what a small world it is huh?

So on our phone call we decided to set up a meeting at my office (Starbucks – I love meeting my clients there!) and Donna happened to be with me today.

I had a good feeling about these lovely people and I was hoping they would feel the same way about me. You just never know. My thing has always “the chemistry” between us must be there – or it will not work. I just can’t put my finger on it. I just know when it’s a good match. My gut feeling that tells me this wedding will absolutely rock!

That we are going to be a team – and a great team at that.

They are also having their reception at the Poinciana Country Club in Lake Worth. Tondra (the owner) is a good friend of mine and she also referred me to Heather and Gabby.

So thank you Heather and Gabby. Thank you for your trust, the great conversation and the joy of what is to come.

YES!

Let’s get this party started! Whoo hoo!

Secrets #7, #8 and #9 for hiring your wedding photographer

Frank Donnino — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:31:35 +0000

Well I am finally done with all my traveling – and back to my daily fun stuff!

Today I am revealing 3 more secrets that I feel are very important to hiring your wedding photographer.

Asking questions of your potential choice of photographer is not only your right…it’s SO IMPORTANT!

It’s ok that you don’t know what to ask. I am sure these questions below will help you.

Ask These Questions:

Secret #7 – Experience- Always ask how long they’ve been in business. Are they a full-time profes- sional photographer, or a weekend photographer that actually does some other job to pay the bills? Do they photograph weddings because they “want to” or because they have to. Do they work by themselves, or with an assistant? Get Testimonials or check references.

Secret #8 – What type of equipment are they using? Although digital cameras are now the standard for wedding photography, and all kinds of professional photography for that matter. You still need to know if they are using a camera known for excellent image quality and file size. Make sure they are bringing more than enough memory cards- and an entire duplicate set of equipment.

Secret #9 If I hire a particular studio, is the person I’m speaking to about my wedding really the person who will photograph it? Remember, sometimes you’ll first speak to the studio owner or manager- then they may job it out to “one of their associates” who you might not meet until the day of your wedding. Make sure you’re planning your wedding with the right person!

Can you see why the answers to these questions can reveal a bunch of information to you that you may not have known. This way you are “armed” and ready to fight the battle of who is telling the truth and passionate about thrilling you, or just someone doing this to make money. The choice is yours.

Thanks for reading! Leave a comment

Frank Donnino Cr.Photog. MyBaldPhotographer.com