However for the last few years one of the owners has been battling liver disease. It has been a long hard road, and in the past few weeks we learned that he was being taken off of the transplant list. In a way we understand. There are many people out there in need and many with better odds of making it through the surgery than he had. That still didn’t make it any easier on us.

So last week he was sent home from the hospital with the prognosis of a few days left. The next day I got the call. It’s a very old saying but no matter how many times you live it, it still rings true, “You don’t know what you have till its gone”.

However for those of us left behind, life goes on. So Sunday afternoon was spent doing chores by my family. Including cleaning out one of our storage rooms. Yes I said one of. What can I say I have a lot of junk. While rummaging through boxes we came across a few of them filled with old family photographs.

I don’t know about you but I love to go through old pictures. But yesterday the importance of these photos hit me. None of us will be here forever. It’s up to us to give the loved ones we left behind tidbits of the memories we have created. Photographs aren’t just prints on paper, they are parts of our lives for others to remember us by.

(but they are also fun to look at)

Now I know what you are thinking “Uh, Michelle you’ve already missed a couple of weeks”. Well in my defense I really didn’t decide to join the bandwagon until a couple of days ago. But I thought to myself “that’s OK” cause I photos from the first 2 weeks of the year that I could use and just post on this the first weekly project 52 post.

Well that was the plan, and then something terrible happened……My cell phone crashed. Yep it won’t turn on at all, even when it’s plugged into the charger. So those photos I was gonna include….well there gone. I can’t even begin to tell you how frustrated I am right now. Not because I can’t include them in this post but because they were some great family snap shots that I wanted to keep.

But its alright. I started over last night. So I guess it would technically be a project 50 now.  :-P

So here is my photo of the week. I ordered Jasmine Star’s self published magazine Exposed, for myself over the Christmas holidays and I am so happy that I finally have the chance to sit down and start reading it. I can’t wait to see all the intelligent info she has to impart !!! LOL

Anyway happy Friday, and hope you all have a great weekend !

- First, this should go without saying, but know how much room you will need. I know this sounds crazy, but you would be surprised by some of the cramped spaces we have seen. Of course you know the room you will need for your guests, but there are other things to keep in mind regarding space. Are you going to have a sit down dinner or a buffet ? If you have a buffet you will need extra room for the serving tables and lines. Are you going to have a DJ or a band? A DJ takes up way less room than a full band. This will require a little bit of planning before hand, but it will be worth it to know these things before selecting your venue.

- Next, are you set on an outdoor ceremony? If so that’s fine, outdoor ceremonies can be quite beautiful. However be prepared no matter what for bad weather. Make sure to have a backup plan or location. Also if you’re having an outdoor ceremony in the middle of August in Houston, please remember the heat. Are your groomsmen going to be wearing full tuxes? If so be prepared for all of them the be sweating up a storm. Likewise remember that the heat will have an effect on your hair and make up. Do you want your makeup to melt off and your hair to go limp? So maybe if your wedding is during the hottest month of summer you should have you wedding indoors at a venue with tons of windows or outdoor decor.

- Something that the couple might not think much about, but we photographers cringe over is the venues photography rules. Many churches and museums don’t allow flash photography. Which is fine, we can re-stage the key moments immediately after the ceremony for portrait purposes if need be. However if you want to guarantee that the photos come out during the ceremony, you might not want to get married at night in a dark church, by candle light. Make sure that the venue allows flash, or has adequate lighting.  :-)

Of course these are just a few of the tips that I can throw your way, but the most important thing of all is to choose a place that fits your style, and have fun !

I love how all of the little girls had the same dress

The couple also had their infant daughter participate in the ceremony.

And to finish it off an exit full of bubbles !

As the year comes to an end. I think back on all of the individuals, couples, and families that we had the opportunity to photograph this year and my heart fills with joy. We are so blessed to count so many people among our new friends. What better way to bring the year to a close than to share with you a beautiful wedding?

I promised to share another installment of Kirk & Susie with their NYC wedding, and I try to always keep my promises.

Here is a little of what Susie had to say about their special day.

What was your favorite part of the wedding?	Everything was amazing. I think our favorite part of the wedding was the Korean Tea Ceremony since all of our families could participate and we could share the Korean part of my heritage with everyone.
What was one crazy or goofy thing that happened on your wedding day?	During the Korean Ceremony, Kirk was only going to give me a piggyback ride but he ended up giving my mom one as well. I think she was nervous because she held on to him so tightly he could barely breath.
What was the most special moment on your wedding day?	When everyone started giving their speeches we were able to look around and truly appreciate everything everyone had done for us on our day. It was especially touching and I know I started tearing…
Where do you see yourselves as a couple in 10 years ?	Hopefully just as happy as we are now but with 2 other additions to the Keel family. I’d like to be able to renew our vows in 10 years.
What is one thing you look forward to about being married?	Starting a new life and hopefully a new family with my best friend and soul mate.

and now without further ado…….

Keeping with the NYC theme Susie designed the programs to look like “Playbills” and each table was named after a New York location.

Susie’s sister made the couple a scrapbook style quest book for everyone to write messages in.

We were treated to best of both worlds with dinner and it was all delicious.

Even though the rain kept us inside it was still a remarkable wedding.

As I mentioned in “installment 1″, this was the first Paebaek that Corey & I had the pleasure of attending. Thank you Susie & Kirk for the experience it was beautiful.

She makes such a lovely bride.

He’s not to shabby of a groom either !!!!

I love it when we are graced with such FUN couples !!!

What can I say we had a blast with this wedding. Susie & Kirk we will definitely be calling you guys up the next time we make it to NYC !!!

To start us off we asked Susie about the vendors she used for their wedding and this is what she had to say:

Please list your wedding vendors along with the service they provided and their website if available. (dresses, tuxes, food, venue, flowers, cake, music, video, etc.) *

Dress: Jenny Yoo
Tuxes: Jack Silver Formalwear (great customer service, and tuxes fit very nicely!)
Food / catering / cake: SK Party Planners (www.skpartyplanners.com/)
Bouquets: Doros Annex (www.212bouquet.com/)
Centerpieces: www.designsbyahn.com
Music / DJ: DJ Gaza (www.74events.com/)
Photographers: Corey’s Images (amazing!)

We started the day out bright and early with all of the girls getting together in Susie’s hotel room (Hotel Roger Williams) for hair and makeup. It was so fun, with all the ladies just hanging out and having a good time.

Isn’t she a BEAUTIFUL Bride ?!?!?!     I mean knock ‘em dead gorgeous, and her personality is just as dazzling. But sorry guys she’s taken

After everyone was ready we had a few minutes in the schedule for a first look. All I have to say is EVERY girl deserves the reaction that Susie got from Kirk. I think this is what little girls dream of on their wedding day !!!

The moms each wore a lovely hanbok (traditional Korean dress).

And last for this installment is a few of the wedding party. I have to say that Susie’s & Kirk’s friends are just as entertaining & fun as they were and I loved meeting them all !

I’ll post the next photos soon so be sure to come back !!!

Be sure to check back in a few days for the photos from their AWESOME wedding !!!!

- This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. 
Elmer Davis

- In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. 
Jose Narosky

 - I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot. 
Gary Hart

 - They may take away our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom! 
William Wallace 

And one that I believe we all need to take to heart …..

- As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. 
John F. Kennedy 

Don’t forget that if you make a donation to Wreaths Across America via this link,by November 20th, 2011 , you will be entered for a chance to win a free photo session complete with a cd of the edited images.

Here’s a photo I snapped earlier with my camera phone

THIS CONTEST IS OVER !! – we will notify the winner via e-mail

Yep I said it we need your help. Corey & I are thinking of changing the name of our business since I have taken on a more leading role in the running of it now it sometime confuses people when they talk to me and not Corey.

So here is the deal. In order to get help finding a new name I have decided to make it a contest.

What will you win? Why a free photo session of your choice of course, along with a cd of the edited images. This is like a $400 value !!!

How do you enter? Easy Peasy !! Just leave a comment below with your idea for a new company name and you will be entered.

The contest will end at 12 midnight Sunday Oct. 23. On Monday Corey & I will choose the name we like best, and notify the winner

So get to brainstorming. Oh and you can enter as many times as you like, just be sure to leave an original name for each comment. Here’s a hint you might want to google the name first to make sure there isn’t already a company by that name

Just because I feel like it here is a photo Corey snapped while we were in NYC last month.

And the contest starts now !