2008 Wedding Photographers Meet - Williamsburg, VA

[SuzyView]

For everyone who wants to learn and to share their talents.

Why Williamsburg? 1-they want our business as not too many people are vacationing, 2-Lovely history there, don't have to buy a ticket to be outside and walking around, great little town, lots of places to shoot, 3-several airports close, 4-Virginia Beach and Norfolk are about 2 hours away at the most for beach photography, 5-many places to eat and have classes.

No date set yet, but would be in the fall when leaves start turning.

No money is to be collected, but picking a committee as POTN activities, even if we don't use the forum name, should be done this way and with participation from everyone.

Last time it worked well as local POTN members made contact with stores, and checked out the hotels for meeting and housing, got freebies and models (not at the same time) :) and other stuff. We can discuss this as we get closer.

Classes were organized and not-organized, and meals were paid in advance and not paid in advance. It worked out great. People shared and we had lots to talk about and laughs. Sharing is the key and we bring all the equipment we need.

The nearest airport is probably Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach. I say 3 days, Thursday, Friday to Saturday, some leaving Saturday evening.

But as all things POTN, we need participation. If you are interested, would love input. I may move this thread to Activities forum later, but wanted to get it started here. Don't flame me.

[lovebugg]

I'm in...as I said in the other thread, I have family in VA, would give me an excuse to visit!

[amonline]

Subscribed.

[collierportraits]

Nearest airport would actually be Williamsburg/Newport News. Used to be Patrick Henry Field, hence the PHF airport designation if you're looking for flights. And Virginia Beach is only about an hour to an hour and a half away.

I'd definitely consider coming up for a day or so...

[SuzyView]

Thanks. I forgot about Williamsburg/Newport News. Would love to have you come. I think I will need your help to get freebies and some suggestions for meeting places.

[g-money]

Ohhh, We love Williamsburg. A shame it is about 21 hrs from here.

[Kenski]

It depends WHEN the in the fall. I deploy mid october....

[ImagesByInku]

I might be interested. I would love to learn new things and meet new people.

[Kenski]

also, VaBeach is only about an hour away from Williamsburg....

[alley1]

I would be very interested too. I'm the Chesapeake, Va. area.

[SuzyView]

Great, how is late September?

[ImagesByInku]

I'm good for September, but not the last weekend. The wife and I will be in Martha's Vineyard for our last "just the two of us" trip before the baby arrives.

[Kenski]

Hmmm, I think it should work for me :)

[SoccerRef]

I would be VERY Interested, but the dates will make it or break it for me.

Opposite of ImagesByInku, the ONLY weekend in September that would work for me is the last weekend. The first weekend in October would be ok. BUT if you want peak fall foliage, you will need to shoot more for late October... See HERE (http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fall/index.shtml) for a Foliage Calendar.

I'm subscribed to the thread, It's only a 9 hour drive ($180 in Fuel round trip)... I could probably find someone to carpool with... Yes, I'd be very interested!

[Kenski]

9 Hours, really???? Im orignally from Cleveland Ohio and it takes about that long but it is a straight route... How do you come from Columbus? Go south and take the southern route or go through PA/DC blah blah blah... Just came back from the northwoods of Wisconsin for 10 days and we went the southern route, VA/WV/KY/IN/IL/WI.... WOW... it was SO nice missing all the DC traffic, PA CONSTRUCTION, COPS in Oh, and the friggen CHICAGO traffic!!! errr..

[alley1]

Works for me. Just need a date to mark my calendar

[SuzyView]

As soon as we get more takers, we can make plans. Last year's meet was fabulous, 17 of us got together. If we can get a lot of people, maybe get a hotel on board, we can see if they have any weddings set for a certain weekend and see if they don't mind us crashing and give them the images we take.

[ImagesByInku]

I would be VERY Interested, but the dates will make it or break it for me.

Opposite of ImagesByInku, the ONLY weekend in September that would work for me is the last weekend. The first weekend in October would be ok. BUT if you want peak fall foliage, you will need to shoot more for late October... See HERE (http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fall/index.shtml) for a Foliage Calendar.

I'm subscribed to the thread, It's only a 9 hour drive ($180 in Fuel round trip)... I could probably find someone to carpool with... Yes, I'd be very interested!

First weekend of October works for me, too.

[SoccerRef]

As soon as we get more takers, we can make plans. Last year's meet was fabulous, 17 of us got together. If we can get a lot of people, maybe get a hotel on board, we can see if they have any weddings set for a certain weekend and see if they don't mind us crashing and give them the images we take.


Once you have a date set, we could even go to Craigslist and post our "availability" there. Surely we could find a wedding or two where the happy couple couldn't afford a Professional Photographer.

I can see it now. "Well, we couldn't afford one photographer, but we got six for FREE!" That could be a LOT of fun and we'd get to feel good too... helping someone out in a time of need. Imagine how cool it would be to have 5 or 6 photographers crawling around your wedding... I think someone would jump on the opportunity!

[Kenski]

Ahhhhhh, good ole craigslist... Gotta love it for something!! :)

[jamesdean007]

Hi Suzie - I had a blast in Albany. Put me down as very interested.

[SuzyView]

Great, James. I miss everyone. I had such a good time, I wish we had a few more days to shoot. You guys were the best! I hate to say it, but I don't think we'll be able to top last year, but we can try.

[SuzyView]

We will have to figure out how many are coming by September 30.

[SoccerRef]

We'll have to solidify a date before then too! I'd imagine that's going to affect who can and who can not come.

[kvt]

I might be interested as well, so I'll keep checking in to see what the dates turn out to be.

[cplchip]

sounds good to me as I'm always open to learning new and better things and getting to go out and shoot with others as well. CW is a great town and it's not too far away so i'll keep checking back to see what gets decided upon and try and make plans from there

[Tjthemaxx]

I would love to do this but I also am NOT available the last weekend of September. I'll be in Ocean City, MD for a big VW car show. :(

I'm in Roanoke, VA and would happily make the drive (3.5 hours or so) for the weekend! I've never shot a wedding but am anxious to learn more about HOW to do it. :)

-T.J.

[Shoot it]

Hello Suzy,

I would be interested also. I think the first weekend in Oct would be better for everyone by the sounds of it. We did have a blast at the last one in Albany and I can tell you one thing i learned a great deal from everyone. Well let me know

Rob

[SuzyView]

If more can come in October, then let's plan that. I have a commitment the first Saturday, but you don't need me the whole time. Let's plan for dinner Thursday, all day Friday. This is in case there are weddings for some of us on Saturday.

[NC_Photo]

Hmm, I might be interested as well. I'm not so sure that September would work for me, but I might be able to swing it.

I'm not too far away in NC.

[kvt]

Not that is it possible to please everyone, but I am busy that second Saturday in October. I'm free pretty much any other weekend.

[Kenski]

I deploy around the 13th of October so all of October is bad for me as I will be spending my remaining time with the daughter and GF

[b8264d]

I'm interested, my schedule is pretty clear at the moment except the first weekend of Sept. October is good with me too. I've never been to Williamsburg, this should be fun.

[SuzyView]

I am going to try to make some plans with hotels, etc. Just warning everyone, if we cannot get all ducks in a row, it's not fair to try doing it this fall, we can plan on next Spring, around late April.

[k9dane]

Hey...new to photography and probably won't be available this fall (depending on the dates), but I do live here in Williamsburg. If I can assist with finding info. for things local, etc., just let me know!

FYI...depending on the airlines, you might find cheaper rates (and/or direct flights) flying into Norfolk or Richmond. Both are an hour away from Williamsburg.

[SuzyView]

I would love the help. I need hotels that have meeting rooms.

[k9dane]

Here's a few....one of these should meet your needs :)

Courtyard by Marriott
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/phfwb-courtyard-williamsburg/


Crown Plaza (known to locals as Fort Magruder Inn)
http://www.cpwilliamsburghotel.com/meetings/index.html


Embassy Suites
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/WBGVAES-Embassy-Suites-Williamsburg-Virginia/index.do;jsessionid=18FE38B8AA4011C24ED3B887A2238E 87.etc13?brand_id=ES&brand_directory=/en/es/&xch=249638934,3UMR0NQDVKBHKCSGBJF3MQQ

Days Inn (there are 5 in the area, all but 1 w/ meeting space)
http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/check_avail?areaCode=&brandCode=DI,MQ,HJ,KG,RA,SE,TL,BU&searchWithinMiles=25&areaType=1&destination=williamsburg&state=VA&country=US&checkInDate=08/10&numberAdults=1&numberRooms=1&checkOutDate=08/11&numberChildren=0&numberBigChildren=0&rate=000&variant=&id=04039&propBrandId=DI&force_nostay=true

Comfort Inn
http://www.comfortinn.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=VA223&sid=t2bdg.uEnfmgmXmg.46&sarea=21235&sname=Williamsburg&sstate=VA&scountry=US&sradius=40.22&slat=37.27313232421875&slon=-76.69656372070312&schain=CI&exp=&scity=Williamsburg&sort=&type=&map=n&nroom=1&nadult1=1&nchild1=0&nadult2=1&nchild2=0&nadult3=1&nchild3=0&nadult4=1&nchild4=0&nadult5=1&nchild5=0

[DegasGoneDigital]

October is good for Us....Sept 6 Nascar comes to Richmond. Hotels and car rentals will be limited and expensive

[Kenski]

Yeah, dont rub in NASCAR! I go to indy 500 every year, Brickyard, and at least 2-3 other IRL and NASCAR events... YEAH, I have been out to sea for ALL OF THEM!! Err... and for Richmond, I will be out to sea again but this time on a REAL cruise ship :)

[SoccerRef]

Yeah, dont rub in NASCAR! I go to indy 500 every year, Brickyard, and at least 2-3 other IRL and NASCAR events... YEAH, I have been out to sea for ALL OF THEM!! Err... and for Richmond, I will be out to sea again but this time on a REAL cruise ship :)


You didn't miss much at the Brickyard... You can pretty much see cars stopping and going, stopping and going, etc. in ANY major city in the world. And you don't have to pay a premium for it!

[lovebugg]

Last weekend in Sept, and second in October are no goes for me. First weekend in October is good for me though!

[cplchip]

I'm flexible so I'll just keep monitoring this thread and see whats decided

[SuzyView]

I've been looking at my schedule and I still don't have anything to report. Can someone in Williamsburg area make some phone calls and I'd say let's decide on a date or wait until spring. That may be more effective.

[jdg371]

New guy here trying to learn anything and everything about photography. I live in Virginia Beach, so traveling wouldn't be much of an issue. Its just the date.. lol...

SUBSCRIBED.

[Kenski]

Well, like I said, I would be good the first week of October and thats it. We deploy soon after that and dont think I would want to do anything after that Saturday...

[SuzyView]

My problem is I have signed up some weddings this fall and it seems late to get started. How do people feel about next spring? It gets green early there.

[SoccerRef]

That would give us more time to prepare.

[b8264d]

and arrange schedules around the date... I'm all for a spring wedding. LOL

[booboo]

SUBSCRIBED

I am also in Virginia Beach... I would like to join you and learn from the pro's. the date would be critical for me on spring since I will be gone on the month of april for a trip to the Philippines

[Mike30D]

I'm very much interested in this, I will keep an eye on this thread. Spring sounds good to me, as someone said above it gives us more time to prepare.

[cplchip]

I'm in for spring

[VaBeachshooter]

Too bad. I had a wedding this weekend that we all could of done.

[collierportraits]

Welcome to POTN, VaBeachshooter, I'm also in Va Beach... Appears we have quite a few on here from the area. Williamsburg is nice and so is Va Beach! Think about it. Actually the VPPA is doing a seminar here in November...