Happy New Years

Some folks seem to be down because 2006 is ending. Some of us are happy campers. I've had the privlege of meeting and photographing wonderful people this year. I was lucky enough to visit England and Israel in the same year. My photo adventures took me to California, Florida, Las Vegas and Mississippi. Last but not least, Aron is on his way home. Yes, Barry is a happy boy.

I put together a short slideshow of this year in pictures -

www.altmarkphoto.com/slideshows/newyears/iframe.html

2007 looks even better!

I've already booked a bunch of cool weddings and I'll doing more corporate work this year. Video, that's the new word at Barry C Altmark Photography. We've already been doing a great deal of video for our corporate clients. We're expanding our video services for our wedding and bar mitzvah clients this year.

Everyone party cool, I want to see everyone healthy and happy in 2007.

1 day and counting ...

It's Bridal Show Time ...

It's that time of the year. This time around we are going to particpate in two Bridal Shows next month.

The Wynfrey Bridal Show on Sunday, January 7th.


The Gabrella Manor Open House on Saturday, January 13th.

Please stop on by and say hi. I've got a new red leather cover for "The Book" that you have to check out. Also, the new Alabama Weddings Magazine will be out. Be sure to pick one up, my work is all over this year's edition (more on that in a later post).

Five days and counting ...

Guilt Trip Time

OK, it's Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day and the family is all together, you're eating way too much, drinking way too much, opening another present. Time for a major guilt trip.

I spent a good part of yesterday morning picking up, moving and setting up beds for the homeless. All of you know that I'm not a big fan of getting up early. I was up and on my way my 6 am. Yes, it wasn't a pretty sight, but someone has to help out.

There's a huge homeless problem in beautiful Brimingham, Alabama. Do I expect you to solve it, can I solve it? Maybe we can make a dent. So, as you're getting ready for your second dessert and it's time to open yet another round of presents think just for a moment how you can help.

If you are so inclined, the organization I am involved with is "The Birmingham Hospitality Network." They need money, clothing and most of all volunteers to help out.

Thanks for listening. Guilt trip over

Eight days and counting

Happy Holidays!!!

Yesterday was the last night of Hanukkah and Monday is when that Santa Claus Dude does his thing.

The image above is from my "Yosemite" Project. Hopefully, those of you on my email list already received this image as a screen saver. If you haven't just give me an email "barry@altmarkphoto.com" and I'll zap it over to you.

I hope you enjoy my little "Moment of Zen" and I hope your holidays are wonderful!

By the way, 10 days and counting.

Two weeks and counting

OK, I have to admit it - I miss my son.

Today marks the magic two week mark. Aron comes home from Israel on January 2nd. That means you have to put up with me counting down the days until he gets home.

Meanwhile, tonight is the fifth night of Hanukkah. Since Julie and I will be in Pensacola with the family during the rest of Hanukkah I won't be able to post when the Menorah is burning bright. That's why today's photo is the Menorah burning away on all cylinders.

Another Beautiful Winter Day

This is Leah and Matt. They're getting married April 21st at St. Lukes in Mountain Brook.

They're such a cool couple. This was our first meeting since they both live up in Huntsville. Poor Matt thought he was just tagging along while we did Leah's engagement photo for the newspapers. It didn't take him long to warm up.

I can't wait to photograph their wedding.

The Weather Outside is Delightful

Meet Brandon and Susy.

They're in town so Susy can meet his folks and Grandmother.

Just delightful, we went for a stroll in beautiful downtown Birmingham to enjoy some of this not so winter like weather.

Dottie Smith Book Signing

Last night I photographed Dottie Smith at her book signing at Books-A-Million (Brookwood Mall).

Her first book is "Cake Expressions" and did very well for a first time author at Christmas time. When 6pm came there was a nice long line waiting for her autograph.

Dottie and her husband Terry run the Edgar's Bakery in Pelham, Alabama.

I won I won !!!!

I just got the mail from WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) today. I won, oh boy!

The above photo "Looking thru the Lamp" won in the wedding details division for the 2006 print competition.

This is from Emily and Brian's Wedding at Shoal Creek.

They were so busy getting mushy, that I got to get artsy.

Stocking Stuffer?

Ok, it's just a ruse for a shameless plug.

One of my recent book projects is out, just in time for the holidays -
The Idiot's Guide to Choppers. This is another project with my long time writing partner, Michael Benson.

Go out and buys lots of copies. You never know, it could become a collector's item.

Christmas Party at Gabrella Manor

Last night we went to Brenda and Steve's Christmas Party. Each year Brenda and Steve invite their vendors over for dinner and drinks and good company.

It's so cool to just sit and talk and talk with folks that we work with all year.

Here's some photos of Melia and Adam's wedding at Gabrella Manor.

Welcome to the Holy Land

During the week of Thanksgiving, Julie and I went to visit Aron in Israel. It was eye opening, cool, sad, wonderful and exhilarating all at the same time. You see Julie hasn't been to Israel in 33 years and I haven't been there in 20 years.

Israel has grown up!

This little third world country has grown into a modern industrial and agricultural state. We're only talking about a country the size of Rhode Island. Yet, the Israeli economy is no longer dependent on just tourism.

The week before we left we watched CNN and Fox news. We didn't visit the same place that's the cable news people seem to be visiting. Believe it or not, not all Israel's have their heads hiding in a fox hole. This country is alive and well, young and old, religious and secular are out and about going about their daily lives.

I felt safer walking the streets in Jerusalem at night then I do here in beautiful Birmingham, Alabama. Yes, most the young people are in the service and carry guns, yes you have to go through metal detectors and show your backpack's contents to enter a restaurant or a mall.

When Aron took us out to dinner in the Arab village in an Arab restaurant and he ordered in fluent Hebrew just outside of Jerusalem we felt no danger. Weird, just plain weird.

Ok, enough ranting.

I did a couple of art projects while I was there (like you thought I wasn't going to play with my camera). I already have one gallery in Birmingham interested in a show and I'm working on another in San Diego at the end of the year.

As Julie and I were sitting in a cafe having yet another cup of wonderful Cafe Mocha. Julie turned to me and said, "When are we coming back"? Soon hopefully very soon.

Paste the link below into your browser for the slideshow -
www.altmarkphoto.com/slideshows/Israel/iframe.html

Sarah and John

I ended my wedding season this year with Sarah and John's Wedding at Convenant Presbyterian Church on the weekend of November 3 and 4th.

We started off the weekend at the Vestavia Hills Country Club for the Rehearsal Dinner. Not a dry eye in the place. Each speaker managed to get more emotional and mushy. Then Sarah and John got married and we came back to the Country Club to dance the night away.

Kathy Blach (Wildflowers) did the flowers, Barb's Cakes did the cakes and DeAnna Morgan was the planner.

Paste the link below into your browser for the slideshow -
www.altmarkphoto.com/slideshows/sarah_john/iframe.html

Halloween Fright Night

Alice and friends from The Wynfrey
Another happy couple from The Tutweiler
Our Karaoke Champ

Monsters, guols, cowboys and rockers, oh my ...

On October 26th I photographed the Birmingham Convention Bureau's annual Fright Night at Workplay. The Wynfrey was there, so was the Tutweiler, the Sheraton, HP Hotels and the Hilton. There was a trade show and networking so the hotels and meeting facilities could hook up with meeting planners and other vendors.

We danced and karaoked to Jamm Entertainment and ate wonderful food from Social Affair Catering.

Amy and Brian on the Lake

October 14th was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and Amy and Brian got married at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Pell City.

For someone who doesn't like to smile, Brian looked like he was having a heck of time.

Paste the link below into your browser for the slideshow -
www.altmarkphoto.com/slideshows/amy_brian/iframe.html

Temple Emanu-El, Birmingham Consecration Class of 2006

At Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham there's a tradition. Every year the Consecration class gets to have me photograph them. Ok, there's also the part about the Religious School Second Grade getting consecrated on Simcha Torah.

Have you seen the latest issue of Alabama Weddings Magazine?

The Flower Girl Spread features my photos!

I like doing fashion work, there's the art director, the client, the talent, the florist, the wardrobe folks, etc. and they're all depending on me to make them look good, cool!

The Babies are coming ...

Think babies, no think lots and lots of babies and stuff for babies.

I was invited to show off my "Mommy and Me" and baby portraits at the Baby Expo at Brookwood Mall on October 7th. The place was packed and the Coffee Table Book was a big hit!

Oh, everyone say Hi to Sawyer.

Jana and Mukul

My first of hopefully many Hindu weddings, September 23rd.

The wedding coverage really started on Wednesday with Jana and Mukul's portraits. We went over to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and these two let me have my way with them. I ran them all over the gardens, just look at Jana's dress and you'll realize what a chore it must be to march around the gardens. Her dress weighed over 25 pounds and then you add jewelry and you thought a bridal gown was complicated.







Then on Thursday we did the Mendhi. This is where Jana and her attendants get their Henna applied by specially trained Henna artists.



The main ceremonies were all held on Saturday. All the Saturday ceremonies and the party were at the beautiful Ross Bridge Resort. Katie and her staff were amazing, making sure the ceremonies went off without a hitch. The ceremonies were held outside on the patio and this being Alabama in September, well think thunderstorms. A big one hit just before the actual wedding ceremonies started and Katie and crew got the site cleaned up and put back together. Unfortunately, the thunderstorm left us sizzling for the two plus hours.

All together there are fifteen ceremonies that make up the marriage ceremony. The Priest, Bhagirath Makmudar,MD kept everything and everyone on track. After Jana and Mukul were married the parties started, first lunch and then the big celebration Saturday night.













Jana, Mukul and their families were wonderful not only to work for but just to be around. Everyone was there to have a great time and celebrate.

Paste the link below into your browser for the slideshow -
www.altmarkphoto.com/slideshows/jana_mukul_ceremony/iframe.html