Ch-ch-ch-changes......

So, as most of you probably realize, I LOVE to change things up.  I mess around with the web site, the blog, all kinds of things.

Today, I added a Preferred Vendors List, see it right there in the upper right corner?

This is NOT some paid list, I don't get or give a dime to any of these businesses.  I have worked with each and every one and can attest to their professionalism and quality of their work.  That's a referral.  There's not a lot, but these are the best.

We also changed up our wedding packages a little, made them more understandable (is that a real word?) and added a new package that we felt was missing from the lineup!

That's it for now!

-B

Tweet! Tweet!

I'm finally tweeting!

Find me at: twitter.com/bidocks

I'm still figuring it out, it's actually kind of creepy and very "hey!  look at me!", but, what the heck!  I'll give it a shot!

It's Official!

I just looked at the Professional Photographers of America Website and it's official! I am on the list of International Photographers of the Year. Here's the link: http://www.ppa.com/competitions/international/poty.php  We got the letter about this a couple of weeks ago, but it's nice to see it "officially" on the PPA website!

-B

Dan & Bliss Engagement Session

I just love Sand Key Park, lots of little scenes to work with.  It's also pretty empty most weeknights.  Thursday was a gloomy day here in Tampa and I was afraid we would have to reschedule Dan & Bliss's (what a cool name!) Engagement Session.  Well, for once I was very glad to be wrong.  The weather held out and the lighting was amazing, the colors were gorgeous and of course our couple was incredible!

Here's their sneak peek:

I'm gonna take a moment here.....

There has been a lot happening around here lately and I haven't been a properly behaved blogger.  I'm gonna take a moment here and give an update on what's been going on.

First, some Big News!

Every year at the Florida Photographer's Convention there's a HUGE competition among individual photographers, one of the toughest in the country.  There's also a guild vs guild competition called the Interguild Competition.  Each of the 12 sections or guilds in Florida chooses 4 prints from their membership's entries and they are like a team entry for that guild.  It's a tough competition!

Well, I am totally honored to announce that Derica and Myself will BOTH be representing BOTH guilds that we belong to!  We each had a print chosen by Bay Professional Photographers Association and Tampa Area Professional Photographer's Association. 

Just a little more bragging about this:  Last year I was chosen for both guilds as well, I heard that was a very unusual situation and doesn't happen very often......  This year I have it on good authority that this many NEVER have happened before, where a COUPLE was chosen for TWO different guilds!  It truly is an honor and I really hope to not let either guild down.

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OK, on to other happenings.......

So, we do weddings, right?  You might think that's all we do.  Well....... that wouldn't be completely accurate.

We will be introducing some new divisions of Brian C Idocks Photographics very soon.  Here's a taste:

Division #1

The Wedding Studio at Brian C Idocks Photogaphics

Weddings, of course. My way:  Hot, romantic, sexy and fun!

Division #2

Intimates

Boudoir and Pin Up Style Photography.  Think Alberto Vargas for the modern age:  fun and sexy with a timeless character.  This is a passion of Derica's and she brings tons of artistry to the table here.  Just check out this sample image:

How cool is that?

By the way, we are going to offer specials and other incentives to kick this off!

Division #3

Studio D

High School Seniors, Derica Style.  Hip (did I really use that word?), funky, fun and cool.

Division #4

The B Gallery

This division has two parts.  The first part is Custom one of a kind Paintings.  These can be ordered from any of the other divisions or a session can be created for the images.  Here's an example:

This is NOT just some effect or Photoshop trick.  They really are painted into the computer using as close as possible to brush-on-canvas oil painting.  The possibilities are endless!  Paintings are Brian's passion and this division creates one of a kind uniqe art pieces.

Second part:  Brian (me) has a tough time with the whole look-here-and-smile style of family portraits.  He (I) want something more timeless than that.  Don't get me wrong, we do plenty of family photos.  I just have been looking for years for a way to incorporate my intimate, emotional, old world theme into them.  Well, I've found it.  Here's a couple of samples:

Now that's family portraiture I can get into!

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One other BIG Announcement!

There's this organization in Florida called FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS, or FPP for short.  One of the best in the country.  This group is dedicated to furthering the profession of photography through education.  My career has never been the same since I joined.  I have had the incredible opportunity to rub elbows with and learn from some of the finest photographers in the business today.

FPP does 4 events per year:

Spring Seminar- A one day intensive workshop on a particular topic or topics.

Florida School-  One of the top week long programs in the country, we get to learn from the best of the best.

Convention- The big one, where we see one of the best Trade Shows and the year's awards are given out.

Fall Seminar- A one day intensive workshop on a particular topic or topics.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Glad you asked........

I am sooooo honored that this year I have been asked to teach the Fall Seminar along with my good friend Sandra Pearce McAuley.  I am going to photograph a bride and groom and demonstrate my use of posing and lighting then make those images into works of art using Digital tools within the computer.  I'm a little nervous, truth be told, but I can't wait to teach!

Sorry for the loooooooooong post, but hey, we had a lot going on!

-B

2 States, 2 People, 1 Tent, lots of Mountains.....

We are photographers, and we usually work pretty much all the time.  I usually don't post "personal" photos on my blog.  I also usually don't get many vacations.  Well......  we decided to get a way to the mountains for a bit.

We camped in Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina and Tugaloo State Park in Georgia.  Most awesome vacation ever.  We're already making plans to go back!

We spent the days hiking and searching for waterfalls, we did find 12!  Played in many of them!

Here's a slideshow we put together to show some of what we saw:

PPA Entries

OK, so I've gottena a little flack for not posting the images from the PPA International Competition.  Well, here they are:

This one is titled "Do I or Don't I?" and it is now in the PPA Permanent Loan Collection.

"Hangin" With the Boys.  This one was First Place in Illustrative at Florida State last year with a score of 97 out of 100.

"Bedroom Eyes", a Distinguished Print in the Portrait Category at Florida State in 2008.

"Choose Your Next Move Carefully"  This one was the Wildcard.  Never been entered in larger competitions.  Did well at a local Tampa Area Competition so I gave it a shot.

There you go, all the prints that helped earn a new title.

-B

Denise & Brent's Wedding Photos!

Denise and Brent's Wedding Photos are now online.  They are available as a Showcase on my website so anyone can see them.  This is a REAL wedding with REAL people and this is REALLY what Denise and Brent see from their wedding!

Go to www.briancidocks.com and click on CLIENT LOGIN and choose your gallery!

-B

Wow, I mean, WOW!

I just got the list from the Professional Photographers of America about their International Print Competition.  Let me explain what that is.  It's a print competition open to photographers from ALL OVER THE WORLD to have 4 of their images critiqued by a panel of judges.  The competition is FIERCE!!  We're talking the best in the world here people!

Anyhow, I have 4 prints out of 4 that made the List!  That give me a new title " PPA Photographer of the Year".  One of my prints was chosen to be in the PPA PERMANENT LOAN COLLECTION!  That raises my level a lot for Photographer of the Year!

By the way, there are only about 200 people on this list IN THE WORLD!!  I guess I can now say I'm one of the top 200 photographers in the world!  Wow, just, wow.

I'm gonna go try to calm down now.........

-B

Niccel & Jeremy's Engagement Session

Sand Key Park got just a little hotter last night!

Niccel and Jeremy are one beautiful couple!

Even though it looked stormy, we survived it and came out with some amazing photographs. By the way, the rain held off until we got back to the parking lot, perfect timing.

They both didn't realize what I mean by "You will get wet".  No, that water is not Photoshopped, it's real, and it's wet! But...... it's a lot of fun!  Poor Jeremy got completely soaked while Niccel managed to keep her hair dry.

Here's their sneak peek!