Amber and Ricco's Engagement, pt. 2

Amber and Ricco had their projection tonight. This turned out to be one of the favorites.

Amber and Ricco's Engagement

Photographed Amber and Ricco last evening. This is was a favorite in the office, but since they haven't seen images yet, we chose a classic image to post.

Liz & Crystal

Liz and Crstal are the daughters, of the owner, of one of our Favorite Saint Cloud Restaurants.

I've been privilegded to photograph their Graduation Images. as well as Weddings for their friends and a few commercial food image projects.

This image was created Sunday, before the Graduation party for Crystal....Carlson School of Mangement, Univ. Of Minnesota MBA Program...Congrats Crystal!!!

Karli & Ryan, Saint Cloud, MN

Photographed Karli and Ryan just this morning about two hours ago!

They were willing and so we tried more complex yet contemporary settings and poses that seemed to capture them. Taken downtown, Saint Cloud, their wedding is scheduled for July 2008 with Adrain Halvorson as their photographer...These guys were fun...can't wait to see how the wedding images will turn out.

Rachael & Robert, Duluth, MN

I haven't had much time to post recently, but a promise to myself to be more diligent, has prompted my post this enagagement image of Rachael and Robert.

There wedding is scheduled for July, however we created this image this past Sunday at Brighton Beach, Duluth, MN. Beautiful day yet quite cold off the Lake. I want to thank them for handling the chilly, yet sunny weather.

Your Belief Becomes Your Reality

The Determinant of Your Success

Perhaps the most powerful single factor in your financial success is your beliefs about yourself and money. We call this the Law of Belief. It says simply this: Whatever you believe, with feeling, becomes your reality. Whatever you intensely believe becomes your reality. That we have a tendency to block out any information coming in to us that is inconsistent with our reality.

What Successful People Believe

What we've discovered is that successful people absolutely believe that they have the ability to succeed. And they will not entertain, think about, or talk about the possibilities that they'll fail. They do not even consider the possibility of failure.

Positive Thinking Versus Positive Knowing

You always act in a matter consistent with your beliefs. The most important belief system you can build is a prosperity consciousness where you absolutely believe that you are going achieve your financial goals. We call this positive knowing versus positive thinking. Positive thinking can sometimes be wishing or hoping. But positive knowing is when you absolutely know that no matter what, you will be successful.

Our First Grandchild

Our First Grandchild! We now have another title to hold...Grandparents!

Keegan Riley was born on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 5:35 PM.

He is the first Grandchild born to either side! And I will do my best to turn him Pirate!!

Influence Others

Every time you influence another person to do a better job, you benefit that person and you increase your own value.

Someone once said that no one can really motivate anyone else; all we can do is motivate ourselves and hope it catches on. You will probably never know how much you influence others with your behavior. When you always go the extra mile, you will influence those in your circle of friends and acquaintances, your family, your co-workers, and even your bosses to do more and better than they have done before. Your value to yourself and others is greatly enhanced by your ability to influence others to be happier, more productive people. There are no salary caps or career limits for those who lead others to great heights of success. Such people are simply too valuable.

-Napoleon Hill

Afraid To Risk?

An old poem by Richard Armour makes a good point:
The bride, white of hair, is stooped over her cane Her faltering footsteps need guiding. While down the church aisle, with wan toothless smile, The groom in a wheelchair comes riding. And who is this elderly couple you ask? You'll find, when you've closely explored it, That here is that rare, most conservative pair, Who waited 'til they could afford it.Are you ever afraid to take a risk? Afraid to commit because of an uncertain future? Afraid of failing? Not that anyone would wait an entire life before taking a chance on marriage, but do you tend to wait until all possible risks are minimized before setting out in a new direction? Though caution and common sense are certainly important, sometimes a risk is called for. As the late William Arthur Ward wisely said:
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk revealing your true self. To place you ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk rejection. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk disappointment. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. Those who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, and become nothing. They may avoid present suffering and sorrow, but they will not learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live. Chained by their fear, they are slaves who have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free. The pessimist complains about the wind; The optimist expects it to change; And the realist adjusts the sails.Is fear preventing you from taking a necessary risk today?

"Award Winning Photography"
Weddings are special. Two people committing their lives to each other. Families beings created. The joy of dreams shared and love fulfilled. Let Delightful Images capture the hope, dreams, and joy of the day that your lives are united. Weddings are celebrations of life and love. Weddings are solemn promises and vows. But most of all weddings are history - your family history. At no other time in your life will you share something so intimate as vowing your love in the company of so many people. Love can be dramatic, wild, quiet, all at the same instant. Love is unique to every couple. Show the world how different your love is.
Together as a team, they create and photograph romantic, storybook weddings that their clients love. Please call the studio to discuss your ideas with Gregg & Linda so they can answer any questions that you may have. Gregg Thompson Photography offers a wide range of services including custom designed portrait sessions, clothing consultations, custom framing, digital retouching services, contemporary black & white wedding photography and more. They look forward to helping make this event one of the happiest and memorable of your lives.
We offer Wedding Collections that always capture the Heart! Two Photographers, with over 24 years of combined wedding experience, at your event. Capturing your style, moments, memories in Black & White and Color, with a ‘flare’ for the contemporary and traditional. Full day coverages, leather-bound custom designed albums, on-line viewing, our guarantee…assure you of the “Best” we have to offer!
Gregg Thompson has been photographing weddings, portraits and corporate functions for over 18 years. Renowned for using natural light situations, Gregg is able to create a sensitive and elegant image.With Gregg’s spontaneous humor, all the tension diminishes and clients become their best in front of the camera.
Gregg has been recipient of many Honors, including; awarded “Minnesota Wedding Photographer of the Year 1999″, “Photographic Craftsman Degree” from PPA in 1999, “Court of Honor” awards, Kodak “Gallery Award” and numerous images accepted into Loan Collections.
Linda, Gregg’s wife, along with her expertise in managing their property management company these past six years, decided to joined forces with Gregg, and became co-owner five years ago, bringing her Black & White photographic (documentary) experience to the team. Her stylistic eye never fails to capture the passion of the day and her sense of fashion and design records those intimate details that might otherwise get overlooked.
Gregg met Linda totally by chance. He had inquired about hiring a model, to help with a wedding instruction class he was presenting to fellow photographers, when a friend mentioned Linda… Seven years later, they now find themselves as one of the ‘most sought after’ married photography teams in the Midwest, having been asked to photograph weddings throughout the Midwest, as well as Negril, Jamaica, Houston, Texas, Sacramento, CA, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, Sanibel Island, FL, and Isla Mujeres(Cancun), Mexico.With their children, they enjoy traveling together, spending time at their lake home and sailing their 30′ Cal Sailboat on beautiful Lake Superior.
Together they strive to provide the finest wedding and portrait artistry available.Thompson Portrait DesignToll free phone: 866.656.5919 / e-mail: Info@ThompsonPortraitDesign.net

Amber...'before'

OK, a few people obviously aware that some techniques were used to enhance the image, wanted to see a ‘before’ image of Amber…before being dropped into some photoshop manuvering…here it is.

Amber

I photographed 'Amber' this weekend at the Radisson in Saint Cloud, MN. I was one of the invited vendors, to a bridal fair, that they host every year.

Amber was not a bride, she was one of the wait-staff that was hastily talked into being a model for a photgraphy seminar I hosted, as our original models never showed.

Not toobad for no hair and make-up five minutes prior to being asked. Thanks to Katie Graham at the Radisson for inviting our studio.

Your time will come

I was drawn to watching Joel Osteen on TV this morning. There was just so much power coming off the screen that despite the pull of the computer in the other room, his words seemed so much more important.Over and over again he emphasized saying to yourself "my time will come!" Now usually someone says that meaning "you're gonna get yours sucka!" but he meant really "you are going to get yours... as long as you believe you will."It's actually in the most trying times that you have to believe that.Believe that the BEST is yet to come... that the next shoe to drop is to complete a brand new pair, not to trample you down.That's the funny thing about faith... you actually have to take that step BEFORE you know if it's going to be alright. (Why else do you need that other shoe, if not to take a step with?)So often people hold off, waiting for a sign that it will be successful before they even try... yet history will tell you that it was those that stepped out in blind faith that journeyed the farthest.I needed that message more than anyone today. My breath has been too shallow lately, my steps too small. I've had guilty moments where I thought of loss; even when I know how powerful positive thoughts can be. I have felt the power of thinking big, and the loneliness of thinking small.I know what it feels like to be knocked down, only to be knocked down again... but I remember what it feels like to stand tall... and to step out blindly... not into the darkness, but the light.And the light can hurt too, when you first step into it... but once you feel the warmth, you don't let the cold keep you down.My time will come.It's about time.

A teen with taste

This Saint Cloud Times report was about my beautiful daughter, who recently developed and published herown cookbook. You can find the article here.. http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/LIFE/103220012

Below is the article...

ST. JOSEPH — Candyce Thompson created almost 100 original recipes for her new cookbook, “Candyce B’s Cookbook.”
The eighth-grader tested every recipe. She scoured stores for colorful dishes and took photographs of every recipe. Now, after almost two years of work, Thompson is looking to promote the book everywhere from her neighborhood to (hopefully) national food television shows.
Not bad for a 13-year-old busy with classes at Mississippi Heights Middle School.
“She has a talent for it,” said Thompson’s mother, Renee Symanietz of St. Joseph. “That is her love.”
The family self-published 500 cookbooks, Symanietz said.
Thompson will sell the books to raise money for a summer trip to Australia and New Zealand. She hopes to earn $3,000 for the journey.
Thompson started cooking at age 2 and when she “could stir the cookie dough,” Symanietz said. At 10, she opened a business, Candyce B’s Bakery, specializing in cakes and pies.
She now makes dishes such as chicken Parmesan and fettuccine Alfredo. That’s good news for her mother, who doesn’t cook much.
“I do most of it now,” Thompson said. “I actually enjoy it.”
Soups are among Thompson’s favorites. Her grandmother always asks for her bean-dill soup.
“A lot of people like the dill,” Thompson said. “It’s very good.”
Thompson relied on friends and family to taste test the recipes. Her 17-year-old brother tried many of them. After all, teen boys can eat — a lot.
The aspiring cook has ambitious plans, including opening a five-star restaurant. But she’s starting small, thinking about selling premade cookie dough for her trip and maybe creating a Web site.
Symanietz has another idea.
“I said cookbook No. 2,” she said.
Thompson is open to it.
“I might try another cookbook. It depends on how this (one) sells,” she said.

Rich & Katie, Sacramento, CA

Captured this series of images a Rich & Katie's Wedding. Kind of fun, they tied the knot at a local Bible Camp and a reception at a nlake conference center.