OK peeps, I’m back in action! This past week I was in New Orleans for Imaging USA. I must say, I loved Nawlins! This is a must visit city and I’m so glad I decided to go. I was on the fence about going to Imaging this year because right now Kris Ann and I are deep in a major kitchen renovation! It was hard to leave the construction zone but a nice room at the W Hotel made me forget all about it (sorry babe).

ps. All the New Orleans photos other than the instagrams were taken with my Nikon V1 which is a fun little camera and I highly recommend it. Don’t worry when it comes to professional, I’m still a Canon guy.

While in New Orleans I did the touristy thing! We visited Bourbon St which was fun. It’s just crazy down there.

I did a little speaking thang at Miller’s Lab and mpix pro’s booth… I’ll be speaking at their booth at WPPI this year. Also I have a platform class so please pre board if you wanna hear what I have to say!

My photo BFF Dale Benfield , and I took a morning to explore the French Quarter. Cafe Du Monde, was a highlight for sure. Dale and his wife Meredith are really wonderful photographers in Arkansas and dear friends to me! Follow their blog, its fun!

Here are some of my instagrams while in New Orleans.. I told you guys last year to get on instagram because its the bomb. One year later and I’m still loving it. How about drop it MODERN’s booth all spangled out? Looks sweet, but not as good as Emeril’s gumbo!  Follow me if you don’t, my instagram name is jpelario.

Want one? Come see us This Sunday, January 22, 2012 at Glen Sanders Mansion. The bridal show is the only one we do. The hours are 11:00am – 3:00pm.

Oh yeah!! I shot this awesome wedding before I went to New Orleans. Be sure to check back next week for their blog! Congrats to Danaea and Mike!!

Last but not least, the winnner of the 2011 favorite wedding from the first half contest was Marie and Chris! They won a Luxe frame with this image in it from Millers Lab!! Congrats to you guys! All that campaigning on facebook sure helped!

Where we at? Where we at? Where we AT!? Ok so this is the time of year where things happen. From bridal shows to trade shows we’re all over the place.

Lets start with January…

January 15,16 & 17th I’ll be hanging at IMAGING USA in New Orleans! I’m stoked for this trip because I’ve never been and on the real I’m dying for some sausage gumbo! While I’m not seeing the sights on this too short of a trip you’ll fine me at the mpix pro / Millers Lab booth. I’ll also be with my friends at drop it MODERN booth (i heard it might have just a little bit of spangled going on).

Monday Jan 16th
2:30pm hanging at drop it MODERN before my talk below..
3:15pm speaking at Millers Booth. I’ll have a few giveaway’s as well as a new product from drop it MODERN to share!

Tuesday Jan 17th
10am hanging at the drop it MODERN booth.

If you’re heading to IMAGING and you follow this blog please come say hi! We not tweet up?

Sunday January 22nd Glen Sanders Bridal Show 11:00am – 3:00pm

I’ll be honest and tell you I’m not a fan of bridal shows but if you’re going to head to one this is the ONLY one in the area I’m a huge fan of. Also, this is the only show we do and we’ve been there for the past 6 or 7 years. We love this show because if you take a look at our blog most of the weddings we do are with the Mansion Catering group and at all their properties. More importantly if we haven’t met you and we’re doing your wedding we’d love for you to stop by and say wassup and get your blog stalker button!

Another Event thats happening in January is Cocoa and Clementine. If you’ve heard of The Pink Orange you probably love their designs. They have a trunk show for stationary! You won’t want to miss this one. Here is the page to RSVP because if you do there will be something special waiting for you!

February!

We photographers know what February means! WPPI!!! If you’re a photographer and you don’t go to WPPI or have not been I must ask what the hell are you waiting for? Seriously, this is THE place to be. I always come home inspired and ready to kill it! I love me some WPPI! I’m so honored to have been asked to present my second platform class at WPPI this year!! I’ll be presenting Wednesday Feb 22nd at 2:30pm so save the date yo!! I’m pretty pumped up for this! I’ll blog my WPPI schedule when we get closer but I can tell you I’ll be presenting at Zenfolio’s booth and Millers as well, I just don’t know the times yet.

Peace,
JP

Today marks the beginning of my 6th year of blogging. Over the past 5 years I’ve blogged over 470 blog posts, received over 5000 comments and had just over 1.2 million viewers. I can’t believe it. My father always says “you’ve created a monster” and I guess I have. Shooting is fun and easy to me but the hardest thing I do is blog. Any photographer will tell you that. Blogging takes mad time and effort, so when I click “publish” and the comments come in it means a lot because it shows me that you all appreciate my hard work. I’m so grateful that so many of you follow my blog. Whether you’re a bride/groom to be, a parent, a past bride/groom or a photographer, I love you all and thank you for the years of support. I have no plans on stopping either. Also, I know I owe you all some video blogs too as it’s been way too long. Don’t worry we got something cooking. But again, thank you all for blog stalking!

Peace,
JP

Did you think I wouldn’t toss an image of my French Bulldog Lexie in? She sits in this window in my office while I blog. If you drive by and see her you better honk because when a horn honks she gets a treat, so it’s like you giving her a treat. ;)

Ok one more.. I call this “the yawn”

I know, I know. How can one think about fall in the beginning of August? Well I’ll tell you. My calendar is already filling up for September. We have 7 weddings in September which makes that month limited for engagement sessions and what not so if any of my brides and grooms are considering an engagement session in September don’t drag you feet to book a date asap.

Onto October.. Year after year October has proven to be “the it month” for weddings, engagement shoots and family sessions. Last year in October we had 10 weddings alone and just about every weekday was booked up with engagement sessions and family sessions. I’ll be honest, it was insane, I was behind on the blogs and I lost my mind a bit. This year we capped October off with 8 weddings and we easily could have booked 11 or 12. I also plan on taking on less engagement sessions and family stuff in October this year. So if you’re considering booking an engagement session for October its not too early to contact me. Also I can only take sessions from full service Elario Brides & Grooms at this point (that means we’re already contracted to shoot your wedding). We need to give our full service clients the first stab at booking. The same goes for family sessions, if you’re already a client of ours you too get the first choice at the popular fall dates. One more note on October. Our 2012 Saturdays for October are all booked up as well and we already have 5 weddings, most likely we’ll only take 3 more for October of 2012. Lastly I don’t want any of you to think I’m bragging here, I just want to educate the masses on the month of October and how desirable it is!

Here are some fall engagement sessions for ya! Edda and Mike’s was shot on Oct 7 at an apple orchard, a popular location I started shooting at back in 2006. Check it out.

While we’re on apple orchards here is one from the third week in Oct of 2009. Check it out.

In Lake George actually on September 29th last year. The foliage was prime earlier than usual. Check it out.

Last year on October 8th in Washington Park. Check it out.

October 20th in Vermont. Check it out.

Lastly this one was on November 10th which proves you can go a little into November but foliage is limited. Check it out.

One more thing! If you like to run and you’re getting married we at the New York Wedding Boutique have the perfect 5k for you! There are all types of wedding related prizes to win. That being said it’s not just for the engaged people. Seriously anyone who wants to get out and run should sign up. It’s Thursday September 8th 6:00pm at The Crossings in Colonie, NY. More information can be found here on the NYWB blog. Come out, get your healthy on!