The Fullam Photography Blog

We can’t wait for spring to get here! To celebrate that it...

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:10:03 -0500

We can’t wait for spring to get here! To celebrate that it is only 37 days away, we’re opening registration for our first Seasonal Session of 2011. Contact us for more information and to pick your time. First come, first served!

A December Deal!

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:14:33 -0500

Hello Everyone!

November is ending soon, and December marks our return to work!

We had a great month off, getting to spend lots of time catching up with family and acclimating Archie to his new place in this world. He’s been so much fun already, and seeing Shep with him is so cute I’ve been saying “awww” a lot more than I normally do.

Now that it’s time to jump into our calendar again, we are offering a special! Sessions booked with a down payment through December 31st will be booked at a discounted rate.

*Sessions must be scheduled for the 2011 calendar year.

Family and Engagement sessions will receive $50 off the total package price - sale prices will start at $100 and go up from there.

Weddings will receive either a $250 discount or a free engagement session upon booking.

Call us at 260.0517 or use our contact form to schedule your session now :)

britt + rae | dayton him + her photography

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:36:00 -0400

here is a peek at some pictures from our him + her session with britt + rae last month. we traveled downtown to the oregon district and took the “pre-marriage” tour with them and got to see parts of the district we didn’t know were there. it’s like an urban yellow springs, for all you dayton/springfield folks :)

Gavin + Gabriel | Dayton Family Photography

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:57:00 -0400

I spent one morning last month with the Titus boys and their mama, who just happens to be due with another little boy at the same time I’m due with Archer :)

Gavin and Gabriel are soo sweet.

Gavin, the older brother, is definitely a little performer. He was laughing at himself and smiled his biggest grins when one of us laughed along with him. Some of my favorite photos from the session came when he rolled out his animal impressions. A serious monkey was definitely my favorite. He nailed it. Maybe you can guess which face it is ;)

Then there is Gabriel, a quiet, handsome little charmer of a child. He’s got some of the most expressive eyes I’ve ever seen on a babe. He had so much to say without uttering a word. And he put up with a lot, too. He’s a very patient little man, allowing us to move him all around and upside down for some shots. For that I am grateful.

I can’t wait to see what Grayson, their little brother, will be like once he gets here!

There is something magical about being a tot with your very own...

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:24:00 -0400

There is something magical about being a tot with your very own bright red Radio Flyer dual-level tricycle decked out in streamers and a bell. Once Shep grows into it, we think he’ll really appreciate it. For now, we’re reminiscing and drinking Coca-Cola.

Gerry here. Last night, Friday, Aug. 6, 2010, was the...

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:20:20 -0400

Gerry here.

Last night, Friday, Aug. 6, 2010, was the “Downtown in Focus” photo contest.

According to the event website “Amateur and professional photographers are invited to participate in Downtown in Focus, a photo contest aimed at finding some new and distinctive angles and shots of our downtown.”

For this event, most of the buildings downtown turned on all of their interior and exterior lights as an incentive to get photographers out for the unique opportunity to see downtown illuminated.

I took plenty of shots of the skyline from across the river and on top of the Miami Valley Hospital parking garage — and I’ll post those later — but this one is for my wife. She stayed home with Shepherd so I could go out on my photo explore.

She made one request via text message after I made tracks: “Take one that is wide, where you are in the middle of the street looking up and out, ok? For my background. Get streetlights in it. Please :)”

I thought, no problem, and I set off to take photos from across the river, where I met my brother and his wife (Cam & Steph) to model for some shots (they were already downtown on a date) — As previously stated, I’ll post those later too, but I digress.

When done there, I headed into downtown to get Erinne’s shot thinking to myself that I knew the streets pretty well — after all, I went to school and worked there for four years — but I quickly realized that I had forgotten the layout and street flow, which has also changed since I’ve been absent.

I parked and walked for a short while looking for a sweet spot I had photographed years ago while in school. I never really found it, so I eventually just stopped across from the Arcade and Fifth-Third building, which are across the street from Court House square on Third Street.

I set up the tripod, drew back the VFL to 12mm on my Tokina ultra wide, cranked up the f-stop, dialed down the ISO, and set my shutter for 30 sec. of exposure.

Voila. One for the wife — and for the blog. :)

Ellen + Greg | Columbus Wedding Photography

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:31:00 -0400

Ellen and Greg are a great couple. An emotional, people-driven, life-loving, face-making, joke-playing, stuck-on-each-other-like-gum-on-a-shoe sort of couple.

We spent the whole day with them on Wedding Day and there were so many tears, I made a note to myself twice in the first hour to remember tissues at all future ceremonies.

Most of the tears trickled forth from laughing too hard. Others escaped during the vows when they got lost in each other’s eyes, exchanging their promises to be there through thick and thin.

This wedding was a little bit like being in the midst of a great romantic comedy and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Thank you for choosing us, Mr. + Mrs. Jackson. It was a JOY. God bless you in the years to come- with lots more laughter and eye-crinkles ;)

"We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight,..."

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:39:36 -0400

““We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.””

- Fyodor Dostoevsky

Top Ten Tuesday | I Love Being a Photographer

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:31:55 -0400

I love being a photographer. If you asked me why, I’d probably say “I just do.” So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes our job something I treasure so much. I’ve got a top ten list now. But i could probably go on. and on. and on.

1. I get to create. Photography is not just about snapping a picture and printing it out. There is so much thought that goes into the whole process that it’s turned into another art outlet for me. I get to visualize, set up, orchestrate, edit, stylize and design all sorts of photos and products. It’s never the same from day to day, and I thrive on that! To have something active and tangible that I can throw my efforts into, and to form a product that touches both the eye and the heart is all I ever wanted in a career. In this way, photography has been a dream come true for me.

2. I get to set my schedule. There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning knowing I can plan my day around my family. Being a photographer has allowed me to be home with Shepherd for most of the day. I am even able to do my post-production work while he cuddles on the couch beside me or plays with his toys in the living room, where we have our computer set up. Working at home means my family can and will always come first.

3. I get to go places. I’ve always been fascinated with other cultures and places. I’ve been itching to travel aaaall my life, and this year we’ve started to book weddings outside the normal Columbus-Cincinnati route. We’re going to a Rehoboth Beach in Delaware this fall for one wedding, and later, we get to see Chicago (at last!) when we travel there for a WPPI conference. Who knows where else these cameras might take us? Anyone know folks looking for a photographer in, say… Argentina? Greece? Japan?

4. I get to work with my best friend + husband. Gerry is a talented artist and has studied graphic design and photography, but also motion picture production. This mix-up of skills makes for some very dramatic and stunning images when it comes time for him to go off and do his thing on wedding days. He sees things most people would never think to look for, and risks his neck (more often than I’m comfortable with!) to get the shots that will mean the most to the folks in the pictures. Beyond that, he has sacrificed a lot of time and effort into being part of this dream and pushes us to get better with every session. I wouldn’t want to do this without him!

5. I’m always learning. Whether from other photographers’ blogs, or books, or magazines touting the last software and equipment, there is ALWAYS something new and exciting going on in the world of photography. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to catch up on all of it, but it’s sure fun to try. And who doesn’t like to learn something new everyday? A job devoid of new ideas and techniques would get boring very quickly, indeed!

6. It’s a challenge. Like any profession, photography comes with its own set of challenges. There is always the risk of an equipment malfunction, bad weather, same old locations, the list could go on and on. But the beauty in every challenge is that it pushes us to find a creative solution. Dropped a lens? Okay, how do we recreate the style with a different one? Ooh… cool. Storming outside? Let’s break out the umbrellas and play in the puddles. Everyone loooves Cox Arboretum? Well, it’s a big place, let’s hit the road less traveled. There’s always an answer, we just have to be patient and think outside the box. More often than not, those moments provide some of the most unique images.

7. We won’t forget our own memories. Another perk of being a photographer is that we usually have a camera (or two) out at any given time during the day. I think I’ve managed to catch every Shep milestone on a CF card and have it backed up in a few different places. Work has been welcomed into our family life by allowing us to document and preserve so many memories we could have missed. I can’t wait to look back when the kids are older and play slideshows of those moments for them!

8. The people: from strangers to friends. I have met so many people in the last few years of capturing love with our cameras. I live for that shift where we go from being strangers, to hearing people’s stories, to celebrating their relationships with them. I will probably never develop a love for doing photographs that don’t include people. You guys are too big a part of why I do this and I wouldn’t trade that for anything :).

9. The people: from wallflower to super star. It’s really something to be permitted to bring someone quiet and wary of having his/her picture taken out of the shadows and into the limelight. And to hear how cool/beautiful they feel upon seeing their photos once the session is over. We are blessed to have a job in which a huge part of our goal is to make whomever we’re working with feel comfortable, special and worth our undivided attention. We’re there to serve, and it’s really all about you, the subject of the shoot!

20. The people: oh, the encouragement! I love and continue to be wowed by how much our clients give back to us, and it’s totally unnecessary and unexpected. This year alone, I’ve received some beautiful notes that are taped to my computer as constant reminders that we’re doing more than just taking pictures. We’re being invited into peoples’ lives and making a mark there, for better or for worse.

one of my favorite notes from a bride this year… “you made us have laugh and have FUN during one of the most nerve-wracking times of our lives! we really admire your creativity and your gentle loving spirits.”

and that’s why i love photographing people!

the tumpaks | dayton family photography

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:27:00 -0400

Amanda + Jeremy have always been ready and willing to venture out with us for a shoot. A couple years ago, it was as a young married couple to help us build our portfolio. Now, they are a hatchback-driving family of four with two little girls whose cuteness and personality cannot be contained. (not that anyone would ever try!)

Sofi, featured while in her Mama’s belly in this post had her first out-and-about photo session and she did great. She let Mimi (big sister) hug her, kiss her, squeeze her as much as she wanted - as long as Mama was waiting with some soothing cuddles afterward :)

And Mimi… that little bundle of sweetness has really come into her sense of humor in the last few months. Amanda says she’s a little bit of a teenager already, too; with a mind of her own and a thirst for independence. But like Sofi, she always comes back to Mama and Daddy for kisses and cuddles.

Love you guys!

the tumpaks: dayton family photography

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:37:05 -0400

We are working on our new store with zenfolio. One feature we’re playing around with is the embeddable slideshow. For our first slideshow share, we proudly present The Tumpak Family Shoot Spring 2010!

dawn + caleb | cincinnati wedding photography

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:01:00 -0400

sometimes fairy tales are many years in the making.

and when this is so, a bride on her wedding day is the most beautiful and gracious creature you can happen upon. dawn was one of those brides. “i am so happy” she breathed to caleb during their vows, “and eleven years later i couldn’t be more in love with you.” it only takes one look at caleb’s tear-brimmed eyes as she enters the church to know his heart beats just as loudly for her.

we’ll remember this wedding for a long, long time. thank you for inviting two strangers to take such an intimate glimpse into your love!

Heather + Andrew | Springfield Wedding Photography

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:42:00 -0400

Last month, we returned to Springfield, OH for the wedding of Miss Heather Newman and Mr. Andrew Hahn. We were so excited for this wedding after meeting with them, and the event did not disappoint.

The whole thing was pretty awesome.

The venue they chose for the ceremony was the State Theater that sits in the middle of downtown Springfield. The theater is older and full of character, nuances and textures that you don’t find in most modern buildings, but it’s been renovated and is currently home to Springfield Stageworks, a local production company.

The day was filled with so many “gotta remember this” moments — The guys running into the president of Wittenberg in the hotel bar; and then later leaping off picnic tables to pose mid-air for Gerry. The girls eagerly jumping into the fountain at the mere idea that it might make for fun pictures, and the way Heather bought all the girls bright red umbrellas so we could still shoot outside when it rained :-b

The most memorable part of the whole day, though, was definitely the wonderful entertainment provided by Heather and her bridesmaids. Especially the MOH’s, Abra and Jill. Anything at anytime sparked them into song. and dance. Amazingly, without rehearsal (i think…) they always broke in at the same place, reading each other perfectly and morphing into a supergirl group :-b If only I’d had a video camera. YouTube would be crashing with all the hits!

All in all, this was not only a beautiful celebration of Godly love between a man and a woman, but definitely a celebration of great friendships, too!

*So blessed to be a part of these phenomenal events. Thank you for inviting us along for the ride, Hahns! Praying for your marriage as you enter month #2 :-D

cryssi + zach: dayton anytime portraits

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:54:43 -0400

My little sister and her husband got married in a quiet, spur-of-the-moment ceremony in their hometown in North Carolina. When they came up for a visit (with their pups) over the holidays, Gerry and I decided we ought to take some pictures for them.

So, we set up a makeshift studio in a basement and went to work. Cryssi and Zach both have a lot of sweet skin art, so we captured that in some of the shots. They also like a little bit of grunge, so these photos are dirtier and more textural than some of the other sessions we’ve done.

Because this session is old by now, we actually have another blog coming up soon featuring their new baby boy, Sashel, who was born June 10 of this year!

the updykes: dayton family photography

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:31:00 -0400

Stacey e-mailed me a few weeks ago to set up a session for her family and for her youngest little girl, Cadence’s, 2nd birthday. I was excited to work with a new client (love the old ones, too ;) ), and we planned to meet at Cox Arboretum in June.

As the birthday girl, Cadence was the star for a good part of the photos. And she is such a little model. Everytime I trained the camera on her, she sashayed into a pose (trained by her big sister, Sibyl, of course. Can’t forget her.)

She is adorable. Obviously.

Her big sisters were pretty entertaining, too. Both are dancers, so I had them show me some of their best moves. Layla opted to go to her “Dance Like an Egyptian” walk while Sibyl was more into demonstrating her skill at balancing on one foot. Both were equally impressive.

We did manage to squeeze in a few family shots. There were many with the models in the foreground, working it. But we got some others where the whole bunch got to share the limelight. Even Mom and Dad got their own little mini session while the girls were off chasing each other in a meadow (oh to have the energy to run wild on a hot summer day!)

and finally, one of my favorite photos from the day- Dad carried Cadence onto a stone a little bit out into the main pond, and they had some one-on-one time studying the fishies below the surface.

it was completely unexpected and priceless :)

We would love to set up some more family photos as the summer draws to a close. Contact us here if you would like to meet up and plan a session!

triston: dayton children's photography

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:01:59 -0400

it is not uncommon for babies to take some time warming up to a stranger with a camera. usually we spend a while letting the tiniest of our clients get used to us before we really get the session rolling.

that’s normal. expected. no biggie.

enter mr.triston, happiest baby in the world, and everything i’ve come to expect goes flying out the window. not only was he an instantaneous ham in front of the camera, he was doing things 9 month olds are not supposed to do yet. like… stand up without using his hands.

wow!

my favorite part of our time was when i suggested (half-seriously) that we put him in a tree for some of the photos. sure, why not? right? as soon as he was situated, the little monkey started climbing the branches to get to me and my camera.

i have a feeling there is going to be very little this guy can’t do. :)

jess + dan: dayton engagement photography

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:06:44 -0400

Danny has always been one of the most steadfast and dependable guys Gerry’s ever had the pleasure of calling a friend. He stood up with Gerry at our wedding, and he’s bailed us out of so many plumbing fiascos that we owe him our sanity, through and through.

I know I spent a lot of time over the years wondering what kind of special lady he would end up with. I even tried to fix him up once or twice. But then came Jess. Sweet, caring, intelligent Jess. And that was it. She was The One.

All I can say about the two of them together is they complement each other down to the smallest of ways and there is a gentle, lulling connection between them that never seems to break. They make eye contact and suddenly it feels like they’ve forgotten you’re there. (Which is kind of a good thing for candids ;) )

They are also oh-so-cool. You see the vintage bicycles and the Mystery Machine below? Those aren’t props. They ride the bikes all the time and that van is actually Danny’s relied-upon method of 4-wheeled transportation. Couldn’t have asked for a better set-up to document their courtship. It was a great shoot :)

We are really looking forward to celebrating your marriage in October, guys! Thank you for asking us to be a part of it all. HONORED!

stephanie + matthew: columbus wedding photography

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:06:00 -0400

We visited the most beautiful little town of Gahanna to celebrate Stephanie and Matthew’s wedding last month. The grass was a vivid green, the buildings sparkled in the sun, and it seemed like the whole community was out walking their perfectly groomed dogs. It felt a ~~little~~ lot like Pleasantville. And it was the perfect scene for a gorgeous Catholic wedding.

Sofia in Belly: Dayton Maternity Photography

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:56:00 -0400

Everyone knows that being a mama sometimes means not enough hours in the day to do everything you’re supposed to do, and that the hours you do have are commandeered by itty bits you want to spend all your time with anyway :-b

So sometimes, a maternity session while the mommy of a toddler must be done in the toddler’s bedroom by the window while she’s playing with her little buddy (our boy, shep). But the where doesn’t really matter too much.

Love shows up regardless of the setting.

The owl featured in the small photo above is by Rachel Maher, one of our favorite textile artists (etsy shop). Rumor has it she’s going to start taking orders again after a little hiatus to remodel an old Cincy house and do some gardening. Check her out.

Also featured is Amelia, Amanda + Jeremy’s toddler!

Sometimes moms ask me how to get the best photos of their kids....

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:35:02 -0400

Sometimes moms ask me how to get the best photos of their kids. I’m a newer mom, so my experience here is limited.

But I have four pointers that are working for me.

First, I say… be a ninja. Sit quietly in the shadows (sort of kidding about the shadows) and wait until your child is engaged in an activity, ignoring you, and then unleash your trigger finger. This works especially well for Shepherd, for whom posing is NOT an option and always gets me some great candid moments that really, really look like him

Second, if you are using a digital camera, take as many as you can while he/she lets you and then pick a few from there that you love. There’s no harm in shooting irresponsibly. Nobody’s going to know but you ;) AND you might get a funny shot that you can save for posterity. We have a whole collection of photos featuring Shepherd winking when he was a baby that are really just him opening and closing his eyes.

Third, try to do your photos during the day time. if you are indoors - do it when the sun is bright, and stalk the light. If you are outdoors, try to shoot closer to dawn or dusk when the light is softer and you won’t get harsh shadows or hot spots (bright white areas) on their faces. Go wherever the nicest light is. Inside, I usually try to have Shepherd play or read in front of our living room window, and he’ll inevitably look out to watch a squirrel. Voila, perfect light on his cute little face (see above photo).

Finally, don’t expect every spontaneous session to be one for the books. Let’s be honest, we all have hundreds (or… thousands!) of pictures on our computers that we will probably never print, and that will be shared on social sites and forgotten within a couple weeks. Imagine if every photo turned out. My head would spin!

Hopefully these help a little bit. :) We’re off to do an engagement session with an awesome couple and their matching classic bicycles. Stay tuned for a peek very soon!