Gratitude - Jared Valentine - Drop Dead Designs

January was a busy month for Tomas Flint Weddings, though this blog was not exactly indicative of the fact! Yep...the ol' visual:ramblings has once again played second fiddle to a number of new developments - all of which will be featured in upcoming posts.

For now, I would like to continue with the 'Gratitude' theme which was developed to pay tribute to key individuals who have enhanced my life, both personally and professionally, by virtue of their individuality, patience and talent.

If you're from Rochester, then you are probably (hopefully!) familiar with Open Face Sandwich Eatery. It's tops on my list for lunchtime destinations. The decor is quaint, warm and inviting and the menu - clever, thoughtful and delicious. Not to mention it is staffed by down-to-earth individuals who contribute enormously to a truly unique dining experience. I'm a big fan, what can i say?!?!

Now I am not the type of person who gets cravings for one particular food or another, but Open Face features this 'open face' corn mash sandwich on sourdough topped with bbq sauce and onion crunchies that actually causes a physical reaction every time that I think about it. So a few months back while gorging on one of these bad-boys, I came to the realization that it was their branding that spoke to me almost as loudly as their product. After some investigation, I discovered that the guy who was responsible for delivering this 'sandwich of the gods' was also responsible for the atmosphere that I was so fond of - enter Jared Valentine.

Now Jared is not only the artist force behind developing Open Face's one-of-a-kind menu, but he is also its part owner, operator, interior and graphic designer...all rolled into one. In addition, he runs his own design outfit - Drop Dead Designs - which provides visual consulting services to businesses of all types. Quite an impressive dude :)

Over the next few months, Jared and I worked together defining and visualizing the brand that is Tomas Flint Weddings. He was patient every step of the way - sketch after sketch, swatch after swatch, etc...etc. A true professional in every sense, he is a gifted listener - and Lord knows, I talked a LOT - with extensive knowledge of his trade. He invited my input and knew exactly when to cut me off, as I have a tendency to get ahead of myself! In the end, we arrived at a logo, color scheme and slew of marketing products that we feel exemplify Tomas Flint Weddings as it is today - Fun, Fresh and Full of Possiblities.

Thank you Jared, dear friend, for giving so much of yourself to the process. I am eternally grateful for what you have introduced...both the me and Flint Weddings...and I look forward to our friendship and collaboration for years to come.

Here are a few samples of the font, logo and color palate...it's such a diverse little guy, so many possibilities:







All this writing's got me hungry...can you say "corn mash"?!?!?

Love.Laughter.Light
t
Rochester, NY Wedding photographer with a look so new that it still smells like plastic

Arriving in Italia

Ciao Tutti!

Derailed, sidetracked, off the beaten path. These are all words to describe my workday. I awoke full of excitement, ready to tackle the task at hand. I sat at my workstation with a steaming cup of 'very vanilla' coffee atop my Beatles Abbey Road coaster in front of me and a plan to work out the final details of the new Flint Weddings Website.

"Before I do that, let me take a quick peek at a few images from our trip to Italy last Spring," I thought. ...and so it goes.

Upon our arrival in Rome, we dropped our things at the family villa and headed out to catch the last glimpses of daylight. It is a long running tradition of mine to take the B Line to the Colosseo stop before I do anything else. Since this was my first trip to Rome with Kelli, I thought that it might a nice way to say..."Benvenuto a Roma!". Walking out of that subway stop to witness the mighty Coliseum and Roman Forums staring back takes one's breath away every time. It is a powerful thing to behold. So much history...so freekin old!!!

After regaining our breath, I noticed a poorly violin player (shabby clothes, beat up intrument missing the chin rest) approaching a young woman waiting for her bus. She was immediatly aware of his presence, but didn't want him to know. The violinist walked up along side her and began playing. And although she did her best to ignore him, she was eventually broken. They exchanged a smile and she gave him some change. It was a brief interaction...easy to miss, yet when I saw that sequence of images this afternoon, I was immediately transported back. I was there again, and the smells and sounds and sights were as alive today as they were 8 months ago. That is the power of a photograph. They are not just ink on paper...They are reminders. They are the information that jog our memories and allow our past to live today. They are significant.

I've included a few images from that sequence below, but had to cut them down in the interest of image load time. If you'd like to see more, I would be ecstatic to share. The rest of the images are from that evening. Twilight at the Panteon, dinner at Piazza Navona...ahhh Roma. From there we traveled for two weeks and collected thousands of images. I hope to find some time to review those soon...you will all be the first to know :)

Roma, Italia (day 1/2)

After dinner we walked past a film crew shooting two really beautiful people doing something around a limousine. I snapped this and was kindly escorted away by one of the grips. As I always say...It's easier to ask for forgiveness that permission :)


Thanks for stopping by my friends.

love.laughter.light
t
tomas flint photographer - fired up for 2009!

ATTN Photographers Heading to Vegas (WPPI)

Hey Hey!!!

If you're a photographer planning on heading out to Las Vegas in February for the WPPI Trade Show & Convention, Southwest Airlines is running a 50% off Sale!!! You have to act fast though...the sale ends tonight at midnight.

Clicking on the image below will get you to the Flight Search page.

I hope to see you all there!!!

Buon Anno tutti!
t
Destination Wedding Photographer gearing up for good times in the Sin City

Gratitude - Anton Lorimer - Lorimer Works

Hello Dear Friends,

So the big push is on. Yes indeed, the .:tomas flint photographers:. rebranding effort is in full swing. This all began months ago when I arrived at the realization that it was time to loosen the reigns and invite individuals into the organization to breathe new life into what was beginning to feel stale. I finally accepted that I simply could not be all things and that the strength of many is so much more significant than that of one. ...and I am ecstatic to report that what (and more specifically who) I've discovered along the way has enhanced not only my work and my approach to it, but my life as a whole. This influx of creative energy has benefited my entire existence, recharged my batteries and re-affirmed that I am on the right path.

Over the next few blog posts, I intend to pay tribute to those who have enhanced this experience by virtue of their honesty, enthusiasm and creativity. I am doing this in NO particular order as it would be impossible to rank their contributions.

Anton Lorimer - videographer/editor/producer/genius/father/husband/friend
www.lorimerworks.com

Anton and I met in San Francisco back in June of this year. I was "west-coastin' it" to work with my friends Ann Hamilton and Joel Serrato on a wedding in San Jose that week. Already being a fan of Anton's work, I was pleased to discover that he was, in person, everything that I wished he would be. We were introduced via Ann & the fabulous Gene Higa and the rest is, as they say, history. Anton exceeds expectations. Anton is the uber. I simply cannot say enough. What we forged over the next few months was more than just hours upon hours of footage...we forged a significant bond. I thank you Anton, for your dedication to this project, for your numerous edits and for simply being you.

Anton's production is featured at the top of the blog and will be for the next couple of weeks. Check it out if you have a spare 3 and a half minutes. It won't hurt...much :) And if you're a photographer considering a video element for your business, feel free to contact me. I like to talk :)

Thanks for checking in friends. ...and thank you for the wonderful feedback. You've given me a case of perma-grin. This entry wouldn't be complete without sending a shout out to Lindsey Thorne, Traci LaVallee-Snodgrass and Brendan Snodgrass. Thank you all for being yourselves and allowing me to see it.

Here's to a New Year filled with love.laughter.light
t
Destination Wedding Photographer who is so darn thankful

Imagine all the People

Hello Friends,

This past December 8th marked the 28th anniversary of untimely passing of the extraordinary yet altogether ordinary poet, musician, philosopher, activist, hero, villain, beatle, human being...John Lennon. John was many things. Regardless of whether those were right or wrong, good or bad, he was EXACTLY what he said he was. Simply a dude with a very thin protective coating, blessed with the spirit of wonder and a penchant for articulating his life experience in a way that anyone could understand. This is not to discount his genius (as it is indisputable), but moreso to point out that greatness walks amongst us. In fact, greatness lives within each and every one of us. It is finding the courage to broadcast that which we possess that prevents us from believing in our own potential. ...and the world from appreciating it! John was beautiful and so are all of you my dear friends. Beautiful just as you are. Bursting with potential.

So...

I played hookie for a good portion of that day to listen to some of John's music, read up on old interviews and play some of the tunes that inspired me to begin my musical journey. I wanted to share a few of those with you. Now even though they display no greatness in any way, they sure do beat the heck out of working :) I hope that you enjoy...or at least don't throw tomatoes at your monitor...





"Time that you enjoyed wasting was not wasted."
-John Lennon

Thanks for stopping by friends. I hope that this finds you all well.

love.laughter.light
t
Rochester Wedding Photographer in need of a voice coach

Not a Dry Eye in Sight - Misha & Michael

They laughed...a lot. They cried...a lot. They danced and sang and hugged and kissed and made the absolute MOST of their biggest day. Did I mention that they laughed and cried?? ...a lot?!?!

Misha and Michael were married this past October at The Fountainhead Conservatory & Gardens in New Rochelle, NY. And let me tell you, dear friends, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I told Mike after the ceremony that it was like shooting fish in a barrel! There was so much emotion in that room...you could literally feel it. It was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget as Mike and I go back to grade school together! That's a lot of history so you can image how honored I was/am to have played a roll in creating memories of this time in his life. Yes, I love my job!

The party that followed did not disappoint. There was Caribbean fare, Italian pastries, a live steel drum band...the works. The speeches were heartfelt, the wine was flowing and the dance floor bumpin! good times indeed :)

A super huge special thanks to Miss Kelli Marsh for her (once again) tireless curiosity and stunning imagery. And an enormous thank you to Inez Bennett from Elaborate Parties by Bennett for her masterful coordination of this fine day. If you're a couple in the NYC area looking for someone to help you plan the perfect day, you need look no further than Inez. She's committed, knowledgeable, experienced and enthusiastic...a real pleasure to work around.

Misha and Michael: From the very depths of me, I am grateful for the experience. Much love today, tomorrow and always.

Misha & Michael - New Rochelle, NY

Credit this one to Kelli Marsh. Spectacular capture Kel!!!




















So you may have noticed the new photo tag featuring the new tomas flint photographers logo. That is the first in a string of huge announcements that I plan to unveil between now and the new year. Stay tuned dear friends. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

love.laughter.light
t
Westchester County Wedding Photographer

Santa's Inbox

Hello Friends,

Here's a screen-shot of ol' Saint Nick's gmail account that Kelli sent over this afternoon. It's got me laughing out loud. er...um...lol. Any who, I hope that your pre-holiday season is a little less stressful :)



love.laughter.light
t
Grown up Wedding Photographer who still believes in Santa Claus